Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 668200,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/668200/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 142,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to congratulate the team from Kakamega and Nandi counties for taking this opportunity to learn from the Senate. I thank your office for always providing exchange, internship and training for the county assembly staffers. On behalf of the Senator for Nandi, Sen. Sang, who is out of the country on official duty, I welcome the team from Nandi. When you go back, assist your counties to continue providing services and promoting unity between Nandi, Kisumu and Kakamega counties. This will ensure that we see more growth through devolution and partnership between and among counties. On another note, I would like to briefly comment on your well researched, learned opinion and communication on the question of constitutional amendments. It is important that you have given that direction so that the Speaker of this House continues to have the responsibility of interpreting the Constitution and giving directions to the House, whether or not a particular matter requires a referendum after being passed by this House. Considering that there is debate on reforms on issues related to the IEBC and gender parity, it is important that this information is in place in good time. I will go further, after agreeing with you that the Rules Committee should look into this matter and revise the Standing Orders, now that we have a Rules Committee separate from the Business Committee. The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chaired by Sen. Wako should immediately move forward and work on a referendum law that will explain not only the procedures of a referendum, but also the issues that should go to a referendum and the determination of the question as to whether an amendment requires a referendum or not. They should clarify those issues, the responsibility of the Speakers of both houses in so far as that declaration is concerned and also the responsibility of the IEBC and the citizens when that process continues. This will deal with matters related to how to verify signatures, what to do if there is no funding, how to make it mandatory that funding is provided for by the National Treasury and so on. This is so that a constitutional right is not inhibited as a result of using procedural or technical measures including budgeting and financing. In Britain, for instance, they agreed in a short time on a referendum. They did the referendum as to whether Scotland should leave Britain. They also did the referendum for the exit of Britain from the European Union (EU) and they made a decision on the matter. So, elections and referendum will be part and parcel of our lives going forward. The legal frame work is really needed to make it clear, cheaper and one that allows decision- making faster. There should be no institution of Government whether the Executive or The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}