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{
    "id": 477027,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/477027/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 267,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Keynan",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 41,
        "legal_name": "Adan Wehliye Keynan",
        "slug": "adan-keynan"
    },
    "content": "elected Member of Parliament or an elected Member of the county assembly. Therefore, that Gazette Notice really negated both the letter and the spirit of Article 1 of the Constitution, which says that the sovereignty of the people of Kenya is exercised by the elected representatives. If you read the same Article with Articles 93 and 96 of the Constitution, Article 93 clearly defines the role of the Member of Parliament. Therefore, having the Member of Parliament as No.43 in the peking order, or in the hierarchical order, was the most unfortunate thing that happened. That Gazette Notice is still in place and this is why you have seen confusion even in public functions. Where is the Member of Parliament supposed to be? How is he or she supposed to be addressed? This has come with serious institutional challenges; I hope and pray that once we pass this Bill, this confusion will not be there. Secondly, I do not want to blame myself on the issue of titles because I was also there in the last Parliament. You realise that there has also been a lot of confusion and individuals have given themselves big titles that do not befit their social standing, or the positions that they hold. The second thing that this Bill attempts to cure is how you are supposed to be addressed as an elected person, a selected person or an appointed person. Whether you are elected, selected or appointed, we are all either as State officers or public officers to discharge our constitutional functions. For purposes of public address, the following titles shall be used to refer to the following persons. For avoidance of doubt, the President of the Republic of Kenya shall be referred to as His Excellency the President. The Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya shall be referred to as His Excellency the Deputy President. The Speakers of Parliament shall be referred to as the Right Hon. Speakers of Parliament. The Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya shall be referred to as his Lordship the Chief Justice. The Member of Parliament--- This is a Member of Parliament and not a Senator or the Member of the National Assembly. He or she shall be referred to as Honourable Member. The Governor of a county shall be referred to as Mr. Governor or Ms. Governor. Right now I am told all of them are Mr. Governors. The Judges of the High Court or the Supreme Court shall be referred to as their Lordships. chairpersons of constitutional commissions shall be referred to as either Mr., Mrs. or Ms, whichever applies. A spouse of the President shall be referred to as Her Excellency the First Lady. A spouse of the Deputy President shall be referred to as Her Excellency. The list is long. We cannot have all individuals office holders. Part II of this says that no other person who has not been captured under this is allowed to use the titles that I have already listed. Therefore, the issue of MCAs does not arise at all. This Bill, once enacted, will take precedence over any other law that is in place. That, again, is cured. That will be Mr. MCA or Ms. MCA, whichever applies. That is the second part of this Bill. It is not in any way to impute an improper motive on a ward representatives; this is meant to bring order because there has been a lot of confusion. Once this Bill is enacted, I am sure all the privileged persons in elected, selected or appointed positions will be comfortable and will enjoy using those titles because they will realise that those titles befit whichever positions they hold."
}