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{
    "id": 414680,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/414680/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 80,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Since all that this Procedural Motion is seeking to do is to set the upper limit and the House has from time to time in its wisdom lowered it, depending on the interests and the number of Members desirous of contributing to a particular Motion, it is important that you really preserve some reasonable amount of time for Members. Maybe a Member speaks for three minutes; the House does not lose. It means that the balance of time will be taken over by the other Member speaking thereafter. Clearly, it is good to have an upper limit that will enable Members to sufficiently explain themselves. I also want to inform Members that the House Rules Committee is also considering other avenues of ensuring that Members are able to be seen by the electorate doing a core function of representation here in the Chamber and not in Committees. It is true that when you refer everything to the Committees, as hon. Njagagua pointed out, the public out there does not know about it. If, for instance, a Member has sought some Statement here and his or her constituents are very happy that the Member has raised the issue on the Floor, but then the matter is referred to a Committee, when the Member goes back to their constituency and the constituents ask what happened to the matter and you start saying that it is before a Committee, your constituents will wonder what you mean because they are not used to this. There is need for us to think proactively and innovatively at ways that will enable your constituents appreciate that you have their interests at heart, that, indeed, you are doing work of representation, legislation as well as oversight. I will be encouraging as many members as possible to float new ideas about how we can go about this. Some have come through; we are also trying to borrow from other jurisdictions, and see what is best for Kenya. Certainly, Kenya is not in the Unites States of America (USA); Members of Parliament in the National Assembly of Kenya will always raise some issues which, in other jurisdictions, will appear very in- consequential, but here they are very serious and pertinent. Indeed, these are the issues captured in the Constitution of Kenya, Article 95(1) as of concern to the people. So if you are not given the chance to also show them that you are actually participating in discussing matters of concern to them sufficiently, I do not think whether--- It is not in the interest of anybody, least of all myself, to see so many of you not coming back on account that some constituents thought that you were not doing your work of representing them. I also want to encourage that we continue thinking about how best to get particularly instant responses to the issues that Members raise. I do appreciate that they are issues of concern to the people you represent. This is just a Procedural Motion on Motions themselves. Can I hear one or two more contributions on this particular Motion, or can I put the Question?"
}