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{
    "id": 513009,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/513009/?format=api",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "EXTENDING DISCUSSIONS ON A MATTER BEFORE A COMMITTEE OUTSIDE THE HOUSE Hon. Senators, on Tuesday 3rd March, 2015, the Senator for Mombasa County, Sen. Hassan drew the attention of the House to an Article appearing in a Sunday newspaper of 1st March, 2015 covering information allegedly divulged by the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Education, Sen. Karaba. Sen. Hassan claimed that the information given to the media breached Standing Order No.88 of the Senate as it amounted to pre-empting or anticipating debate as the matter was being investigated by a Committee of the Senate, on disturbances facing the University of Eldoret. Hon. Senators, although the Senator quoted Standing Order No.88 that relates to anticipating debate, the appropriate Standing Order is No.89 which states:- “No Senator shall refer to the substance of the proceedings of a Select Committee before the Committee has made its report to the Senate.” I wish to note that the above provision applies to debate within the House which gives the principle of application of the rule of extending discussions by Senators outside the House. The question of Members of the House taking debate or commenting on matters pending before the House or Committees outside the House is not new. Therefore, as you can expect, there is a well developed path in terms of procedure which is codified through rules and practice, which as you are well aware, is uncodified and set by precedence mostly through Communications from the Chair. Let me remind Senators that the Chair comprehensively pronounced itself on the subject in the last Session and that position has not changed. Hon. Senators, I have looked at the article in the newspaper referred to by Sen. Hassan titled “Senate Team Unearth Rot at Eldoret Varsity.” It is a report summarizing alleged problems confronting the institution that led to the unrest from the author’s perspective, in the course of their work of reporting Committee activities. It is not quoting or referring to a Statement issued by or attributed to a Member of the Committee or any other Senator, or indeed, including the Chairman himself. Therefore, arising from the foregoing, the Chair is satisfied that the reporters who filed the story were within the parameters provided by the Constitution and our rules of procedure and hence there was no breach of the rules by any Senator, nor by the newspapers. Hon. Senators, I also applaud and commend Members of the Committee for staying the course and not being carried away and deviating from the task at hand, namely; making proposals that will assist the university back to its feet as the specialized agency of the House in education matters. I, therefore, wish to encourage all Senators, starting with Sen. Hassan, to be reading the stories more carefully before they bring the matter to the House. Thank you."
}