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{
    "id": 580016,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/580016/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 147,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Prof.) Nyikal",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 434,
        "legal_name": "James Nyikal",
        "slug": "james-nyikal"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Bill. Let me start by congratulating Hon. Adan Keynan for bringing this Bill to the House. The work that Members of Parliament do really needs freedom of speech and privileges. At the same time, it confers upon Members of Parliament, great responsibility. With freedom of access to information, we have the media participating in all our activities. There is the danger of the reporting being done by the media on what we do putting us, as Members of Parliament, into great jeopardy. The work that we do sometimes gets into areas of great detail. At times it is not really possible for people to deal with information which is not fully processed. Therefore, it can be subjected to some legal processes. It is important that we support this Bill because it seeks to operationalise Article 117 of the Constitution. Considering the interactions that take place in parliamentary Committees, it is important for us to have some guidelines for handling of information and its protection. This Bill goes a long way in doing that. I am particularly happy with the definition of “Precincts of Parliament”. The definition should not just cover the debating Chamber because it is too small that sometimes we are forced to transact parliamentary business away from it. Neither should the definition cover only the fences around Parliament Buildings because we have to go to other places that have been leased. It is important that this Bill recognizes that when we are working in Committees, or wherever we maybe, we are actually transacting business of Parliament and, therefore, the privileges and freedoms should be there as well. At the same time, it is important, as we are protected, to be aware of the fact that there are state agencies that have to ensure the security of this country. That bit is recognized in this Bill. Clause 4 says that there is need, at times, for security personnel to get into the precincts of Parliament. There may be a problem on this Clause, but we can handle it when we get to the Committee of the whole House. Clause 5 also regulates access to Parliament by members of the public, including the Press. This is also important. In accordance with our Constitution, the Press has access to what we do. In parliamentary deliberations, there is open participation of the public and the Press under, Article 118 of the Constitution. It is, however, important that the privilege given to members of the public is in some way controlled. This Bill adequately takes care of that aspect. Regarding the issue of immunity from arrest that is supposed to be enjoyed by Members of Parliament while within the precincts of Parliament, history shows that Members of Parliament have previously been arrested from within the precincts of Parliament. I do not know if at that time the definition of “precincts of Parliament” was 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."
}