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{
    "id": 554088,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/554088/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 25,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Orengo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 129,
        "legal_name": "Aggrey James Orengo",
        "slug": "james-orengo"
    },
    "content": "On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I am just concerned that we are continuously being seen to be helpless as regards the responsibility of the Executive to the Senate and to Parliament as a whole. We like citing Article 125 which I think is an important one in relation to the responsibility and obligations of the Cabinet. However, the more appropriate Article is 153 of the Constitution which makes it an obligation for Cabinet Secretaries to attend before a Committee of the National Assembly, or Senate. They have no choice. The words used are “shall attend before a Committee of the National Assembly, or the Senate when required by the Committee.” There is no question of discretion or choice on the part of the Cabinet Secretary. When part of the Executive, including the Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission (EACC), gives summons even to Senators to appear, we appear without any doubt in our mind that they are discharging a function. When it comes to the Senate, it looks like the Cabinet Secretaries have a matter of choice. I hope that at one point and as requested by the Senate Minority Leader from your seat, you can make this situation clear to the Cabinet that it is not just being summoned as witnesses, but it is part of their constitutional obligation. The other issue which gives this statement a very important dimension is that an officer of the IEBC has already said that they do not recognize what the Cabinet Secretary said with regard to this matter and yet there has been no reaction to that statement by the Executive. This means that the Executive is trying to show us that they interfered with the last elections like they want to interfere now. Therefore, this matter requires a quick reaction because all legitimacy of republican governments comes from elections. This is not a matter that should be left in abeyance."
}