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{
    "id": 478139,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/478139/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 347,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Chepkong’a",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1154,
        "legal_name": "Samuel Kiprono Chepkonga",
        "slug": "samuel-kiprono-chepkonga"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Speaker, the Petition by the Petitioner, Mr. Wafula Buke, was committed to this Committee by yourself, in which you required the Committee to conclude its findings and submit a report as required by Standing Order 230, within ten days. Hon. Speaker, I came back to the House and requested for additional 30 days which this House graciously granted. We tabled a report which was in accordance with your own direction and we complied with your order. The Petition by Mr. Wafula Buke received quite some substantial attention in the Committee. We investigated and it took us a long time. We went out of our way to ensure that the Petitioner appears before the Committee - although he is not required to. We went out of our way to invite him to make oral presentations to support his Petition. We also wanted hon. Members to hear first hand and orally from him what he wanted the Committee to assist in terms of supporting the Petition. Hon. Speaker, Standing Orders are very clear that the Petitioner must be assisted in ensuring that the Petition complies with the Standing Orders and the Constitution. Therefore, it was our duty to ensure that we assist the Petitioner. We gave him as much leeway as we could in ensuring that he complies with the provisions of the Constitution and the Standing Orders. At one point, the Petitioner was afraid to come before the Committee. He sought a number of adjournments or requests to be excused from appearing on the dates that we had given him, until the last time we gave him a final notice that, if he does not appear, the Committee will proceed as it deemed fit. On the last day, he appeared and came with his advocates. As you are aware, our committees are quasi judicial . We do not strictly follow the Evidence Act in terms of ensuring that we are strict in the manner in which evidence is provided to the Committee. Therefore, we allowed the Petitioner in the company of his lawyers to make his oral presentation and to give any further supporting issues he could have liked to present before the Committee; which he did. At the conclusion of those proceeding, he was surprised that hon. Members are very accommodative. We took time to inform him about Article 95 of the Constitution which is very clear that we deliberate and resolve the issues that concerns the people. Therefore, as the representative of the people, we were very kind to him and we extended our generosity of the National Assembly in ensuring that he was comfortable in making his presentation of his Petition. So, we heard him. After we concluded with him, as you know, we are required under the Constitution and the Standing Orders to advertise and call for memoranda from members of the public who are interested in providing any information that may support or oppose the Petition. 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."
}