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{
    "id": 289464,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/289464/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 324,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Otieno",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister of State for Public Service",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I think it is clear to all hon. Members that when you say “party interest”, and in addition to that you say “not more than a multiple of three,” mathematically you are conveying that there is an opportunity for absolute party interest where absolute party interest will not give you any multiple of the numbers. If you have one slot, you give one name and if you have five slots you give five names. That is absolute party interest. The next criterion that says “not more than a multiple of three” allows relative party interest. “Relative party interest” now means that the party gives opportunity to the House to accommodate its interests and determine other candidates over and above the absolute number. That is why it is not more than a multiple of three. In other words, in the case of ODM, if we would go by absolute party interest we would have just given five names. We are allowing the House not to moderate that party interest. So, it is absolute five. The rules allow that a party should express relative party interest and allow the House to make a choice between the absolute number of five and the additional nominees that you may have. So, ODM gave nine. So, our party interest was not absolutely determined. We said relatively it will be determined by the vote of the House picking any of the nine and giving five. Mr. Speaker, Sir, my second point is that you cannot have your cake and eat it at the same time. There are hon. Members who remain technical members of ODM by choice but have declared non-participation in ODM parliamentary group meetings, meaning they have no intention whatsoever of subjecting themselves to the ODM party whip. When it comes to obeying the ODM party whip they say “No” but when it says counting themselves as ODM members they say “Yes”. The rules require expression of party interest. The party interest goes beyond the 110 Members of ODM technically or legally in this House. The party interest goes beyond to the general population of the party membership. So, if you deliberately select to belong to the party legally but refuse to obey the party whip, you have already decided that there is an amount of benefit you will claim and beyond that there is an amount of benefit you will lose. That is the truth in this particular situation. As long as we have not more than 27, there is adequate choice and there is sufficient reflection and conveyance of party interest in the choice. What now remains for the House is to moderate the choice of the nine to absorb all the other criteria taking in the youth, gender and ethnic balance because nine only cannot fully express the ethnic diversity of this Republic. Again, nine only cannot reflect all other interests and groups in this Republic beyond the party interests already accommodated. So, the voting can take place tomorrow for the nine and the input of the Assembly will be sufficient to comply fully with the rules for the election for these posts. Thank you."
}