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{
    "id": 571987,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/571987/?format=api",
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    "content": "degenerates into a situation which can undermine the constitutional order because the precincts of Parliament and the representation in Parliament is a representation of the nation at large. Therefore, the dignity that is associated with representing Kenyans must be maintained by us, Members, but also the precincts of Parliament must also be respected. That is the second purpose that this Bill is trying to achieve. The new Constitution has also brought a number of changes in the way we conduct ourselves as parliamentarians. Of importance is the need under Article 117 and 118 of the Constitution for Parliament to be people centred and to allow Kenyans to express themselves on how we conduct ourselves. You will find that one of the provisions in this Bill allows the Speaker to designate an area within the precincts of Parliament where the public can assemble, demonstrate, picket and express themselves about Parliament and where necessary hand in petitions or memoranda on what they think Parliament should do or concerning what they think is not being done right in Parliament. We have had a sad history of the interaction between Parliament and the people we represent. About a year or so - that time the Senate was operating from some structure at KICC – there was big drama in town when some members of the public who could have had legitimate or illegitimate grievances decided to carry some livestock and bring them to the entrance of Parliament. They actually converted the road into an abattoir or a slaughterhouse. They sacrificed some animals there and it was a very ugly scene which amounts to cruelty to animals. Some of those things are actually offences under the law of Kenya. It is true that there is need for members of the public to express themselves on what they feel about their representatives. That is why this Bill says that the Speaker of either House of Parliament shall designate a specific area where members of the public who are aggrieved can assemble, demonstrate, picket and even hand over petitions of memoranda to any House of Parliament. At the same time, this Bill requires some responsibility on the part of those demonstrating and picketing so that nobody comes in the name of demonstration and then slaughters animals, insults, rough ups or assaults people. I am just being reminded by the Senator No.1 that we even had Members of Parliament (MPs) – I do not know whether this is true or not – who were very agitated by some of the things that were happening - not in the demonstration but on 18th December, 2014 - which I started by exemplifying. Some MPs were so agitated that they did some press-ups and maneuvers within the precincts of Parliament. As much as that could easily be seen as a simple matter, we must be careful so that we do not undermine the dignity, authority, solemnity and the seriousness attached to Parliament because this is a House where the voice of Kenyans is processed. Every person here either as a Member, staff or visitor must dignify our nation by conducting themselves with decorum."
}