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{
    "id": 675178,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/675178/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 79,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Midiwo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 184,
        "legal_name": "Washington Jakoyo Midiwo",
        "slug": "jakoyo-midiwo"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am shocked at the lack of command of English by my friend Hon. Chepkong’a because what I am going to raise will show that I use the correct expression. However, to satisfy him, it is the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. On 8th June 2016, the Whip of Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) Coalition Hon. Mwadeghu wrote to the Speaker of the National Assembly. Just to read one paragraph of that communication to the Speaker, the first ones says “The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) is concerned that the Jubilee Administration has taken over the affairs of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs in the matters of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and other necessary electoral reforms. As a consequence, the members of CORD can no longer meaningfully transact committee business.” Hon. Deputy Speaker, that letter was received by the Speaker and it was responded to by the Speaker allowing what the Standing Order says “to withdraw our members”. I want to take this opportunity to jog your memory. Back in the year 2011, the then Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs had similar problems and issues. I was then the Chief Whip of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and because our counterparts in the coalition had decided to take over the committee, we used what was legal in parliamentary parlance and we de- whipped our members until we talked. The ruling I am seeking from you moving forward so that we are clinical--- This is a House of rules and records. I want a legal opinion from the Office of the Speaker read on the Floor like it was read back on 11th May 2011 and a few other rulings to do with that controversy which we had. Hon. Deputy Speaker, after the coalition sorted out the issues, the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) was tasked to deal with the issues of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs until those issues were resolved. We politically resolved those issues. The ruling I want you to communicate to this House is whether a committee can still exist when one part of the House has no membership in it."
}