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{
    "id": 188923,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/188923/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 139,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ms. Karua",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 166,
        "legal_name": "Martha Wangari Karua",
        "slug": "martha-karua"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to issue a Ministerial Statement in response to Mr. Imanyara's request of 9th July, 2008, for the Leader of Government Business to inform the august House about the constitutional implications of the simultaneous absence of the President, the Vice-President and the Prime Minister from the country. As a matter of fact, the President was away in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the 12th Summit of the IGAD Heads of State and Government from 13th to 14 June, 2008. The Vice- President travelled to the Sahel and Saharan State Conference of Leaders and Heads of State held 1938 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 17, 2008 in Cotonou, Benin, from 16th to 18th June, 2008. Therefore, well after the return of his Excellency the President. The Vice-President then departed from Nairobi on the evening of 15th June, 2008 and arrived back on the evening of 19th June, 2008. The Right Hon. Prime Minister left for an official visit to Washington DC, USA on 15th June, 2008 and his return was due on 19th June, 2008. The three official trips did not coincide as had been insinuated by Mr. Imanyara. Specifically, the President was in the country during the absence of the Vice-President and the Prime Minister. Section 11 of the Constitution says that where the President intends to be absent from Kenya, he may, in writing, appoint the Vice-President to exercise the functions of his Office. You will notice that the powers to appoint the Vice-President, as an acting President, during short absences of the President from the country, is discretionary, not mandatory. The relevant language of the Constitution, Section 11, is \"may\" and not \"shall\". I would, therefore, say that at no occasion had both the President and Vice-President been absent from the country."
}