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{
    "id": 440338,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/440338/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 414,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Kipyegon",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1453,
        "legal_name": "Johana Ngeno Kipyegon",
        "slug": "johana-ngeno-kipyegon"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Speaker, I want to end by echoing another issue which the Mover had raised, and this is the question of Parliament or the committees of this House having the same powers as those of the High Court. I think this is also another opportunity where we can comprehensively look at those powers that the Constitution has vested in this House. In most of the cases, we have claimed that we have the same powers as those of the High Court and yet on many occasions we summon people to appear before these committees, but they decline. When this happens, committees do not know what steps to take. Hon. Speaker, the High Court has powers to even jail somebody who fails to appear. The court has powers to even fine somebody for contempt of court. When we say these committees or even Parliament has the same powers as those of the High Court and we cannot exercise them, then I think there is a lacuna in the law in that particular area. Therefore, it is very important that we discuss the powers which are vested in this House and what happens when somebody is summoned. What happens when somebody comes and gives false evidence? What happens when somebody fails to appear? What happens to the evidence that we get? Sometimes some of the evidence we get ends up being thrown out of this House and when it is thrown out of this House, what happens to that report which has taken a lot of money from the taxpayer?"
}