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{
    "id": 463501,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/463501/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 66,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Keynan",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 41,
        "legal_name": "Adan Wehliye Keynan",
        "slug": "adan-keynan"
    },
    "content": "(c) shall perform any other functions conferred on the office by an Act of Parliament or by the President. (5) The Attorney-General shall have authority, with the leave of the court, to appear as a friend of the court in any civil proceedings to which the Government is not a party. (6) The Attorney-General shall promote, protect and uphold the rule of law and defend the public interest. (7) The powers of the Attorney-General may be exercised in person or by subordinate officers acting in accordance with general or specific instructions.” I and the Solicitor-General and three deputies shall endeavour to avail ourselves as often as practically possible but we will require the understanding of committees where this is not possible. I wish to seek their co-operation with any officer of the Office of the Attorney-General and Department of Justice appearing before the committees. Yours faithfully, Githu Muigai.” Hon. Speaker, the tone and the input of this letter is like it is a circular to the two Speakers. It is directly the opposite of what you have just stated because he says he is not available on Tuesdays because there is a National Security Council meeting. He also says he is not available on Thursdays because there is a purported Cabinet meeting. He also says he knows that Monday and Friday Parliament does not sit and he is also aware that in his own mind, Wednesday is a parliamentary day and, therefore, as far as this circular is concerned--- This is the first time that I am seeing a circular from a member of the Executive addressed to the Speakers of both Houses. I felt duty bound to bring this to the attention of the House because if you take a cue from this, then from what you have been seeing of late where Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) and other entities in the name of representing the Executive refuse to appear before committees, then I am sure they must have been advised. Hon. Speaker, I also want to get your guidance. When we invite the Attorney General, he is not invited as an adviser to Parliament because Parliament has its own Legal Department. The Attorney-General is invited as a witness before any of the departmental committees and, therefore, I do not know in which context this circular was written to the two Speakers of the House. I felt we should get your guidance on this because as a result of this circular, the Attorney-General has failed to honour appearances The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}