Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 289972,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/289972/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 9,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Deputy Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, before we proceed to conduct elections for Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), I wish by way of a Communication to announce the procedure that we shall follow. This Special Sitting of the House has been convened for the purpose of electing members of the EALA pursuant to the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community (Election of Members of the Assembly) Rules, 2012. The election shall be conducted here in the Chamber while the House is Sitting, being a place I have appointed for that purpose under Rule 15(1) of the Rules. In accordance with Rule 14, Members are informed that all Members of Parliament who are present and voting, except the Speaker and the Attorney-General, will after signing the list of electors with the Clerks-at-the-Table be issued each with one ballot paper, containing names of all duly nominated candidates, clustered under the heading of the names of the respective parties that nominated them (Rule 14(1). Each Member, on receiving a ballot paper which has been duly stamped shall proceed to one of the ballot booths and secretly record his/her votes by putting a mark in the space provided on the ballot paper, for recording of a vote against the names of nine candidates as clustered that the voter desires to elect in respective proportions to entitlement of each Parliamentary Party. In respect of KANU cluster, which consists of only one candidate, a voter will be required to vote “Yes”, if the voter wishes to elect the candidate; or “No” if the Voter does not wish to elect the candidate. After marking the ballot paper and while still in the booth, a Member must fold his or her ballot paper and proceed to deposit in the ballot box and after bowing to the chair, resume his or her seat. Hon. Members are reminded that Under Rule 15(3), a voter must cast a total of 9 votes, otherwise, the ballot paper of that voter shall be regarded as spoilt. A Member who accidentally spoils a ballot paper while voting is in progress shall, on surrendering the spoilt ballot paper to the Clerks-at-the table, be issued with a replacement by the Returning Officer. The voting shall take place up to 12.00 p.m. On the closing of the voting, the Speaker will suspend the proceedings of the House for 45 minutes to facilitate the counting of votes. The Returning Officer assisted by Parliamentary Officers shall in the presence of two counting agents and any Member who may wish to witness, count the vote cast on the Dispatch Box. I propose the two Joint Government Whips to act as counting agents for all the candidates. The votes having been counted and the results of the election ascertained, the Clerk, in accordance with provisions of Rule 17(a), will report to the National Assembly the results of the election together with the number of votes recorded for each candidate under the cluster of each party. The House will resume at 12.45 p.m. The bell will be rung for eight minutes as in a Division before the resumption of the proceedings. Upon the resumption of the House, the Returning Officer will announce the results of the election in the assembled House and thereafter the Speaker, pursuant to Rule 17(b), announces to the National Assembly results of the election in respect of all candidates and thereafter the House adjourns. Hon. Members should note that during this exercise the House is fully constituted and all the Rules of Procedures are applicable and will be enforced by the Speaker. In addition, the Rules give Mr. Speaker residual powers for matters specifically not provided for in Rule 23, which inter alia states that:- “If any matter arises which is not specifically provided for in these Rules, the Speaker shall make a ruling directing what is to be done and in making such a ruling, the Speaker shall be guided by the practice and procedure normally followed in similar situations with regard to the conduct of elections in the National Assembly"
}