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{
    "id": 579996,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/579996/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 127,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Dido",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2749,
        "legal_name": "Col (Rtd) Ali Rasso Dido",
        "slug": "col-rtd-ali-rasso-dido"
    },
    "content": "show their anger because this is a democratic society. That has been captured in this Bill. Citizens must speak out if Parliament is not doing what the Constitution says it should do. There are important bits that this Bill has attempted to bring out such as immunity from legal proceedings for witnesses coming before Parliament and Committees of Parliament and Members speaking out on either the Floor of Parliament or in Committees. In Kenya, since Independence, for lack of such laws, MPs who have the privilege to represent their people and speak out on issues affecting those they represent, have remained mum on issues they do not believe in mainly because there is no law that safeguards them as individuals who have been thrust to the front edge of leadership. There is no law that says that if you do this you are safeguarded. The other issue is about the media. This Bill has talked about the aspect of broadcasting, both print and audio. I am glad that the issue has come up. As a first time legislature, what I have generally seen is that the media, particularly in covering this House, has been very accommodative. The attempt by this House should not be how to lock out the media but rather how to work with them, so that they can inform our people out there. There are two Clauses that are sticking out: Clauses 17(2) and 27. During the Committee of the whole House, we must focus on the two Clauses and tackle them with a toothcomb, so that we do not end up with a pedestrian law that can be challenged in court for not being in tandem with the Constitution. Finally, I see within this law, protection of members of the public. The public should not perceive us to be making laws to insulate ourselves but we are also safeguarding the rights of our people to come to this House. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}