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{
    "id": 576390,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/576390/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 265,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Shaban",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 139,
        "legal_name": "Naomi Namsi Shaban",
        "slug": "naomi-shaban"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. As I look at this constitutional amendment, there are some things which have come up that are of major concern. I know there was a task force which came up with Hon. Mutula Kilonzo Constitution (Amendment) Bill. I was part of it but there were some concerns that we had and we have them even now. Even today, I still have the same concerns. Because people say that you look at the letter and the spirit of the law, it is important for us to look at what the letter says in terms of when the elections will be held in this country. It is quite clear that when we talk of the fifth year, essentially we are trying to change the terms of parliamentarians, the President and the governors to be four years even in future. Let us not just look at this coming election. Let us look at future elections also and see whether we have maintained the five years, because there is a contradiction in the term of the Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) and parliamentarians, considering that is what the presidential and governors terms are tied to. We need to think without emotion whether this is what will serve our purpose. I agree that the month of August is very complicated if we get a presidential runoff in this country; we will get into confusing the examination period with election time because we shall still be in a campaign mood. By the time our children are supposed to be gearing towards doing examinations they will be so destabilised. It will be difficult for them to do examinations without feeling that fever. It takes time for people to really catch up at a time when they are supposed to be at the climax of planning to do their exams. That is the time when they will be highly destabilised. The reality is with us and it is up to us to face that reality. I know sometimes politics is about selfishness, but as we are looking at it, who are we serving? We are serving a society which has to be taken into consideration when you are considering all these."
}