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{
    "id": 576288,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/576288/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 163,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Gikaria",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2489,
        "legal_name": "David Gikaria",
        "slug": "david-gikaria"
    },
    "content": "traditions, some communities will be denied an opportunity to exercise their constitutional right. That is because they have traditional issues they undertake during that period. He was specific about the Luhyas initiation process. It is important for us to think about that. He was very categorical that the drafters of the Constitution – and he gave an example of America and why they chose the date and month of November – traditionally, set aside that day because harvesting was a major activity in America. They chose that come November, they will have been through with harvesting and were free and everybody can get an opportunity to vote. Hon. Duale has raised some fundamental constitutional issues we need to look at. First, is on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). If the Constitution says that we cannot extend its term, then that will be a problem. That is because moving the elections to December will mean that the IEBC will be out of office by November. We will not have picked another team to carry out elections. On the principle regarding the figures and the number of people, I will agree with Hon. Ochieng that we should support this amendment, and, again, that notwithstanding, go with what Hon. Duale has said. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, in your opinion, you will give a ruling regarding this issue. This Bill was brought to your Office through the Legal Department and you have approved that it be brought to the Floor of the House for purposes of hon. Members to decide. But again, I wonder what decision you are going to give, which you have already given. By the time you approved this Bill to come to the Floor of the House, you were convinced that there were no constitutional matters. Of course, you have read Article 255 of the Constitution, which indicates the items that should go for a referendum. With those few remarks, I support the amendment but, of course, taking into consideration the constitutional issues that were raised by Hon. Duale, particularly on IEBC."
}