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{
    "id": 1513409,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1513409/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 460,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Homa Bay Town, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Peter Kaluma",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you for giving me this opportunity. It has been mentioned that there were deliberate efforts to delay this Bill, particularly at winnowing. As a Member of the House Business Committee, you remember I am the one who requested for that. I do not know whether you were presiding that time. I know it was not the substantive Speaker. I was personally concerned at what happens in our procedures in Parliament when a matter goes for winnowing. This is important for me, that we mention it. You remember I said in the morning that it is Hon. Millie who has been frustrating progress with this Bill, contrary to her presentations before this House. My understanding of winnowing is considering amendments in a Bill clause by clause. When you go for winnowing under the Standing Orders, the Members proposing amendments on a Bill state their positions clause by clause and seek to agree. That is why it is called harmonisation. That is not what happened before this Committee. I am saying this so that proper directions and perspective can be made. We went for winnowing and I remember Hon. Millie was there between Hon. Irene Mayaka and myself. Hon. Shakeel proposed amendments. While winnowing, I was told that my amendments would be dealt with later. I protested but they insisted. So, it was not winnowing. The only time I was allowed to speak during winnowing was the day the Speaker called a Members’ informal sitting here. Hon. Millie delayed coming to that meeting by over one hour. We had sat there waiting for her for a whole hour when she came. By that time, we were also rushing to this House for a Kamukunji. Hon. Millie can confirm we covered up to Clause 13 in that less than one hour we sat. We managed to persuade one another. I hope she will not deny this. We left the Committee having agreed that we were to meet the following Tuesday. I approached the Speaker when I came to this House that very afternoon. That very afternoon is when I was informed that I was to accompany the Legislative Caucus on a trip to South Africa by the following day. We all know the delegation was going to deal with issues of the House, including the amendments you have seen being proposed. Immediately after I spoke to the Speaker, the Hon. Millie seated there is the first person I informed that I would not be available for the meeting as agreed. I informed her “I am travelling out of the country tomorrow”. I requested her we agree on a day to finish. We were moving towards finishing. Hon. CNN was there. Hon. Millie went to the Committee on Tuesday when I came. I also informed the Committee Clerk Assistant and the Chair of the Committee. Hon. Millie went to the Committee, having been informed by me of that intervention. She insisted that the matter had to be proceeded with anyway. I came back, took the matter astride, and said that we would proceed before the House. I agreed to proceed. This is critical because my reputation is being attacked on something I am approaching in good faith. Under the Standing Orders, there should be a Report from a Committee when a matter goes for harmonisation. The Committee reneged on everything we had agreed on up to Clause 13. I did not mind. I agreed to proceed. Hon. Temporary Speaker, you were in this House when we began. The other Members of the Speaker’s Panel and the people representing the Hon. Speaker were here. We proceeded very well. Why should we be in a situation of being blackmailed despite proceeding?"
}