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{
    "id": 307134,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/307134/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 177,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Munya",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for East African Community",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 279,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Konzolo Munyao",
        "slug": "joseph-munyao"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would also like to support this very important Bill that gives the public an avenue to directly have an impact on what is legislated here on their behalf. The Bill is basically a quantification of the procedure that was already existing before the new Constitution required actual legislation to provide for petitions. It is clearly a quantification of what is existing. As some of the hon. Members have said, there is need for an amendment to provide for an opportunity for feedback; we do not want to turn the House into a graveyard of petitions where petitions will come, they are recorded and that is the end of it. Members of the public would want to see that something has been done about their petitions, for example that the problem has been solved in case of something that was affecting the public. Some action needs to be taken, so that the House can appear responsive to what the members of the public petition for. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Bill is about petitioning Parliament. I do not see how we can amend it to provide for petitions to county assemblies, because these will not be part of Parliament. We need to realize that county assemblies are going to be assemblies on their own and they will also be passing legislation. They will not just be idle to wait for the National Assembly to pass legislation to do things in a certain way. That is why we wanted to devolve functions. Therefore, we are providing assemblies at the county level, so that they can also have business to undertake. I am sure each assembly will have its own unique way of wanting to engage the county citizens. The House should not attempt"
}