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{
    "id": 452554,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/452554/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 556,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Chepkong’a",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1154,
        "legal_name": "Samuel Kiprono Chepkonga",
        "slug": "samuel-kiprono-chepkonga"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, hon. Members need to listen, so that they can vote rightly. This is a matter that was discussed by the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. As we all know, it is mandatory for this House to invite members of the public to give opinion with respect to any legislation we intend to enact. Pursuant to that provision, we invited memoranda, which were forwarded to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee. The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) appeared before the Committee. The Anglican Church and the Methodist Church also appeared. We asked them to come up with that which is acceptable to the Christian faith. They came back and gave us a written proposal to replace what was contained in clauses 18 to 26. This is the part that deals with Christian marriages. Let us not confuse it with civil marriages. We will come back to civil marriages, where we will then deal with other issues. We will come back to the customary law and deal with customary marriages. With respect to Christian marriages, the Christian community has unanimously agreed to this proposal. On this one, they appeared before us. I can hear hon. Kang’ata requesting a chance to give me information. He is a Member of my Committee. There is no information to give me. I am well versed with this matter. These are matters which were taken very seriously. If you listen to the Bishop in this House, you will appreciate what I am saying. He is a Bishop of a particular church. We sat down. There are very many Christians in this House. Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, if you go to any local church, you will find that there are what we call “banns of marriage”, which are read out for three consecutive Sundays before one gets married on the next Saturday. They ask if there is any person with any reason as to why two parties should not be joined in marriage. Whoever is opposed to the marriage is required to give reasons, in writing, to the church."
}