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{
    "id": 293069,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/293069/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 180,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Imanyara",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 22,
        "legal_name": "Gitobu Imanyara",
        "slug": "gitobu-imanyara"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity for me to seek a Ministerial Statement from the Attorney-General regarding what I see as a very dangerous emerging trend of interference by the Executive on the constitutional principle of separation of powers. This arises directly out of the unfortunate incident in which two of our colleagues died under yet unexplained circumstances. The first part relates to the summoning of Members of Parliament to what was essentially an Executive function through the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President who is also the Acting Head of Public Service through an SMS addressed to hon. Members. It is established that when the Government wishes to relate with the Legislative arm of Government, it should come through your Office and through the Clerk and we should never be summoned to meetings of the Executive as Members of Parliament. Secondly, at that meeting, His Excellency the President indicated that there would be a thorough, fair and impartial investigation of the circumstances that led to the death of our two colleagues. Immediately thereafter, the Minister for Transport purported to make an announcement under which he appointed a member of the Executive to sit in an investigation of the incident contrary to the provisions and constitutional practice and also the principle set out in the law regarding the setting up of commissions of inqury. In that Statement, we need to be explained the basis upon which the Executive would purport to directly interfere with the Judiciary by appointing a serving member of the Judiciary to a committee that is not a judicial commission of inquiry and that has not followed the law relating to public inquests. This is important as we move towards implementing the new Constitution. It is very important and as we go to the General Elections that each arm of Government recognizes their areas of competence and desist from either interfering or appearing to interfere with the constitutionally mandated areas of jurisdiction."
}