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{
    "id": 52279,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/52279/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 228,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "With respect to a vote of no confidence against the Chair of the Committee, that is a matter that is clearly provided for and anticipated by the Standing Orders. Standing Order No.175 provides for a Vote of no confidence in the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the Committee. Standing Order 175(1) states as follows:- “By a resolution supported by a majority of its Members, a Committee may resolve that it has no confidence in the chairperson or vice-chairperson and such a resolution shall be reported to the Liaison Committee which shall, as soon as it is practicable, arrange for the election of a new chairperson or vice- chairperson as the case may be.” It says that the vote of no confidence shall be by a resolution supported by the majority of its Members. This, therefore, presupposes that the Committee will have a meeting at which a majority of its members are present and they will resolve that they have no confidence in their chairman or vice-chairman. What I did receive in my office, just copied to me, was a notice which was addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly saying that eight Members of the Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs are unhappy and have no confidence in their chairman. It is a notice to the chairman and it is asking the Clerk to convene a meeting of the Committee. The Clerk went ahead and convened a meeting of the Committee, but the meeting did not conclude. So, there is no resolution of the Committee. There has to be a resolution with minutes indicating that the Committee has so resolved. So, until such time that we have that resolution of the Committee, the chairperson of the Liaison Committee cannot convene a meeting for the election of another chair. I wanted to bring the House up to speed on this matter because there has been a bit of a blame game and playing of ping pong; you know one person hitting the ball that way and the other hits it the opposite way. That will not do. Let us follow the Standing Orders as they are, indeed, as I have referred to them. In the meantime, we will proceed to take the Second Reading of this Bill or any other Bill that may come, for that matter, because we have previously done so. It is, therefore, a practice of this House that where a Committee delays in filing its report, then the House will continue with the Second Reading. But the report of the committee will be taken on board as and when it comes before the Committee of the whole House. It is during the Committee of the whole House that Bills are amended. That is the way to proceed because it is practical. The business of this House must continue. As much as possible, all of us ought to co-operate to ensure that this House executes its mandate. Even the Standing Orders, for that matter, are supposed to be facilitative. They are supposed to be enabling; not obstructive. I urge all hon. Members to please be kind to this nation. Let us do what we must do because Kenyans have entrusted us with legislative authority. I direct that we proceed with the Second Reading."
}