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{
    "id": 579930,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/579930/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 61,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Keynan",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 41,
        "legal_name": "Adan Wehliye Keynan",
        "slug": "adan-keynan"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Deputy Speaker, Article 117(2) of the Constitution provides that: “Parliament may, for the purpose of the orderly and effective discharge of the business of Parliament, provide for the powers, privileges and immunities of Parliament, its committees, the leader of the majority party, the leader of the minority party, the chairpersons of committees and members.” This Bill makes provision for regulating admittance to and conduct within the precincts of Parliament. Article 117(1) of the Constitution provides that: “There shall be freedom of speech in debate in Parliament.” The word is ‘shall’. The framers of this Constitution were not naïve. They knew the national representatives had to be protected. Luckily, this Article is so clear. Therefore, this Bill attempts to put this Article into effect. Matters that might not have been clearly explained under Article 117 of the Constitution have been clearly spelt out in this Bill. Once this Bill is legislated, I have no doubt in my mind that Members of Parliament will be more robust, articulate and fearless. They will respond to issues timeously. Right now there is the fear of the unknown hanging above their heads because you do not know where what you are about to utter is likely to take you. We should have done this in the last Parliament. This Bill should have been in place by the time the 11th Parliament came into session. The National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act, the current law on this subject, does not envisage the bicameral structure of Parliament. This Bill takes into consideration the bicameral nature of Parliament. It also covers some of the issues that may not have been envisaged by the framers of the current Act, which is Cap 6 of the Laws of Kenya. The main objective of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Bill, 2014 is to give effect to Article 117 of the Constitution. I have already explained Part I of the Bill. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}