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{
    "id": 1580209,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1580209/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 113,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Order! Your Chief Whips have done a wonderful job in getting all of you here. You may recall that the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 4 of 2025, was read First time in this House on Wednesday, 12th March 2025, following which I referred it to the Department of Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs in consideration, public participation and reporting to the House. The Bill, which is co-sponsored by Hon. Samuel Chepkonga, CBS, MP and Hon. (Dr) Otiende Amollo, Senior Counsel, CBS, MP, was published in the Kenya Gazette-Supplement on 26th February 2025 and seeks to amend the Constitution to entrench the following funds; One, The National Government Constituencies Fund (NGCF) for purposes of ensuring reasonable access to exclusive national government functions in all constituencies as envisaged in Article 6 (3) and guaranteeing the participation of the people in the identification and implementation of priority national government programmes. Two, the Senate Oversight Fund, to ensure that the Senate is adequately empowered and resourced to perform its oversight functions, and three, the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), to enhance the national government's measures on affirmative action. Hon. Members, the committee concluded the public participation exercise and Tabled its report on 17th June 2025. The Bill is now in Second Reading as listed on the Order Paper. Before the House resumes debate this afternoon, I would like to highlight the procedural aspects related to the consideration of Bills to amend the Constitution through parliamentary initiatives. Hon. Members, concerning the manner of debating the Bill, I know that the debate on the Bill to amend the Constitution is not subject to curtailments, contemplated under Standing Orders No. 95, closure of debate and No. 97, limitation of debate. In this regard, neither Motion seeking that the mover be called upon to reply nor a Motion to limit debate on the Bill shall be entertained. Hon. Members, on voting thresholds, Article 256 of the Constitution prescribes the threshold for passage of a Bill to amend the Constitution, both at the Second and Third Readings. For emphasis, it provides as follows, and I quote: “ A Bill to amend this Constitution shall have been passed by Parliament when each House of Parliament has passed the Bill in both its Second and Third Reading by not less than Two- Thirds of all the Members of that House. In this regard, the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill 2025 will stand passed at the Second Reading if it garners the support of not less than 233 Members of this House, being at least Two-Thirds of the Members of the National Assembly."
}