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{
    "id": 28485,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/28485/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 199,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Imanyara",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 22,
        "legal_name": "Gitobu Imanyara",
        "slug": "gitobu-imanyara"
    },
    "content": "I rise to oppose this Procedural Motion. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this Executive has had 365 days to prepare Bills to ensure that they comply with the provisions of the Constitution. The purpose of publishing Bills is that Kenyan citizens get an opportunity to read, scrutinize, understand and raise their objections with their respective Members of Parliament so that these issues can be debated and where necessary, we pass a law that is well scrutinized; a Bill or a law that meets public expectations. This is because we have had a history of rushing Bills through this House and then we come to regret much later that we should never have allowed it. The amendments that brought Section 2A were rushed in this House in 45 minutes. We have passed that period. Mr. Speaker, Sir, just the other day, the Nyachae Commission seeing serious discrepancies and seeing serious objections in the Financial Management Bill recommended that we take advantage of the constitutional provisions that allow us to extend time within which to read; not to extend the life of Parliament, but time within which to satisfy the Kenyan people that the Bills that are being brought to the House do meet the expectations not only of the people but also the letter and spirit of the Constitution. The Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs has been complaining in this House very regularly about the frustrations we have been going through. I, personally have stood in this House every time the Deputy Leader of Government Business has risen to tell us that the Executive is working to bring these Bills on time. They have not brought them on time. I recall when the President came to address this Parliament in a Special Session calling upon us to debate these Bills in time to meet the constitutional deadlines. What explanations have you offered for this delay? None! You have not even dared to offer an apology rather than to say apologies are due. You do not want to acknowledge that you have been in the wrong. What you want us to do as Parliament is to rubber-stamp decisions that you have taken when you know you have not given any reasons. I think what this House should do is, if necessary, sit late, but not for the purposes of acquiescing in the breach of the Constitution. Mr. Speaker, Sir, these Bills have hardly been circulated. As I speak today, I have just passed these Bills, but I have not even seen what they contain. How am I expected to sit here until midnight to pass Bills I have not had an occasion to read and which Kenyan people have not heard occasion to refer to?"
}