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{
    "id": 567686,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/567686/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 131,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Chea",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1694,
        "legal_name": "Mwinga Gunga Chea",
        "slug": "mwinga-gunga-chea"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker for this opportunity. From the outset, I wish to say that I support this Bill. I equally wish to thank Hon. Wamalwa for moving it. It is true that we have moved from the one party system to a multiparty system. There are so many political parties existing now, whether in Parliament or even outside there. The truth of the matter is that political parties actually find a place in our Constitution. If you look at Article 91 of our own Constitution, there are responsibilities that have been bestowed upon political parties. Under Article 91, political parties are supposed to promote the Constitution as well as uphold the rule of law. Political parties are, amongst other things, required to promote national unity. It is my humble view that these very important constitutional duties cannot be discharged in the absence of funding to these parties. I support the view that even small political parties that have a representation here in Parliament, or even in a county assembly deserve to get funding. You realise that every political party has its own programmes that it has to implement. The current Political Parties Act requires political parties to have offices in counties. So, these offices are occupied by staff and the staff requires to be paid. In the absence of funding to these small political parties, the risk is that they are parties that are going to be done away with and the major political parties are likely to take advantage of this. The most important thing, which is a fact and we really have to look at it seriously, is that when people go to the ballot box, as it is now they do not vote for a political party. They vote for an individual. When the individual makes their way to the Chamber, he or she has a vote. The position is, even for my good friend Hon. Mwanyoha, who is a Member of the Orange Democratic Party--- I am also informed that he is the branch chair of ODM in Kwale County. His vote is the same as my vote and I am a Member of Kenya African Democratic Union (Asili). I have one vote and Hon. Mwanyoha has one vote. So, I do not see the reason why that party has to get funding and my party does not get funding. If we are to have equity, then I propose that all the parties that have representation in this Chamber or in county assembly deserve to be funded. I wish to support this Bill."
}