Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 368775,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/368775/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 119,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mati",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2469,
        "legal_name": "G.J. Munuve Mati",
        "slug": "gj-munuve-mati"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Speaker, I would like to comment on this issue because I have had a few problems with the Committees that I serve in. If you look at the list at Number Six, you will see the name John Munuve Mati. This is the only hon. Member who has been removed from all the Departmental Committees. There is nobody else. I have also found out that natural justice was not followed. Secondly, my party leader has moved me from the Departmental Committee on Energy, Communication and Information which I prefer to keep and dropped me from the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. He gave that slot to hon. Muia who comes from his village, obviously married elsewhere. The reason we got is that hon. Muia is the Member of Parliament for Konza. If every Member had to be in a Committee that involves him, all Members here would be in the Committee that deals with water issues because we all drink water. We would all be in the Committee that deals with agriculture because we all cultivate somehow. All of us would be in every Committee. Whereas I accept the fact that parties have a right to move Members of Parliament from one Committee to the other, natural justice must be followed or at least be seen to be followed, especially in this House. If a political party – I am the Member for Mwingi North elected on Wiper ticket – strives that its member takes the leadership of this country and does not practise democracy within its ranks, obviously that is very wrong. Hon. Speaker, I find this list in relation to me very dictatorial and oppressive simply because there is a loophole in the Standing Orders that gives some party leaders draconian powers and, in fact, powers that should not be held by any particular Member, especially in relation to another Member of Parliament who has been elected. I wrote two letters to my political party and your good Office, but not one was acknowledged. I never got any response addressing my concerns about being removed from both Departmental Committees that I was comfortable serving in. I realize that when a dog eats its puppies, there are never sympathizers sending condolences to the dog. I stand here as a victim of this kind of dictatorship. I rest my case and hope and pray that this list is actually rejected so that the party can convene a Parliamentary Group meeting so that it decides on who is most qualified to be in what Committee."
}