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{
    "id": 1568051,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1568051/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 230,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Rareida, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Otiende Amollo",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I think if any Kenyan doubted why we impeached the former Deputy President, now they are clear that it was legitimate and proper for the more he speaks, the more he acts and the more he invites action for impeachment in any other circumstance. It is sad to refer to 2007 and to threaten that we could go back there. In 2007, we came to the brink of the precipice. We came to as greater disaster as we possibly could and it took the backing down of the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga for us to continue as a State and as a nation. No one should refer to those events and to do so is dangerous. It is because of 2007 that we now have a Constitution that prohibits that kind of conduct and speech. It is an express limitation to the speech. It is because of it that we even had Agenda 4 Commissions. That is why we created the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC). That is why we have the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ), the Kenya National Human Right Commission (KNHRC) and others institutions. This is not just about politics. This is about our country. Hon. Deputy Speaker, it is important to note that, as a House of Parliament, we impeached the Deputy President. Some people do not remember that one of the grounds cited was failure to uphold the dictates of the office under Article 75 (2) (c). Under Article 75 (2) (c), once you are removed from office, Article 75 (3) comes automatically into play. That is to say you can no longer hold any other State or public office. We did not pronounce ourselves on that bit because at the time we were focusing on the question of impeachment. I think now what we should address ourselves to on this matter that has been brought by Hon. Junet is how we now invoke Article 75 (3) that pronounces that Hon. Rigathi Gachagua can no longer hold a State or public office. That is when these things will reduce. I invite you, Hon. Deputy Speaker; that, through the Speaker’s Communication, it might be important to guide this House on whether we can do so by way of a petition or by way of a Special Motion or by way of a Special Inquiry by the House. We need to pronounce ourselves on this matter. This is important because while Hon. Rigathi Gachagua went to court and sought to stop this whole process, the court did not find merit in his petition. The court is desirous of going to the logical conclusion, including re-declaration of unfitness to hold office. To pre-empt that, Hon. Rigathi Gachagua has now withdrawn his petitions. I will highlight two things. One, I urge this House, through its lawyers, to insist to the court to consider the merit of the matter. We would like the court to declare whether Parliament was wrong or not, including the fitness to hold office. Two, we need to re-examine that very The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}