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{
    "id": 678143,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/678143/?format=api",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "This Bill has one main objective which is to give effect to Article 117 of the Constitution relating to the privileges and immunities of Members of Parliament, in particular, to provide for the powers, privileges and immunities of Parliament, its committees, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, the Chairpersons of Committees and Members of both Houses of Parliament, and to make provisions relating to how members of the public may be admitted into the House, not necessarily in the Chamber, but the precincts of Parliament. The precincts of Parliament are described as any area within the boundaries of Parliament. This is so that there is regulation on who accesses Parliament for the orderly conduct of business, the maintenance of the dignity of the two Houses of Parliament and for security of Members and staff who work there, being the most important and supreme political institution of the country. Madam Temporary Speaker, the reason the Bill is introduced is to give effect to the new Constitution especially by recognizing that Parliament is now bicameral. This is because we already have an existing legislation known as the National Assembly Powers and Privileges Act Cap 6, but it deals with the National Assembly powers and privileges. What the new Constitution says is that pending the introduction of a new Act which is now here, the National Assembly Powers and Privileges Act will continue to apply for both Houses of Parliament. Therefore, when this Act comes into force, Cap 6 which is the National Assembly Powers and Privileges Act will cease to apply. It will stand repealed and this is the law that will apply. Madam Temporary Speaker, largely speaking, the issue of parliamentary privileges and immunities is standard. These are standard immunities and privileges that you will find in all parliaments around the world. With regard to the Commonwealth, the immunities and privileges are basically the same. Parliament is given inviolability in the sense that not everyone can access Parliament so that Members are secure and they are safe as they deliberate on important national issues. Parliament being a political House, its security cannot be overemphasized. Secondly, all over the world and including in this Bill, Members are protected by being given freedom of speech and freedom from arrest or harassment by security agencies in connection with the words they speak or utter especially on the Floor of any House of Parliament or a committee for that matter. Likewise, there is protection of the staff members from being compelled to reveal information to unauthorized institutions, including courts, especially with regard to proceedings before Parliament. For the orderly conduct of parliamentary business, this Bill also suggests that no member, whether an MP or a member of staff, may interrupt the proceedings of any House of Parliament or even a sitting of a committee of Parliament. Recently, we had an incident in this House where the proceedings of County Public Accounts and Investments Committee (CPAIC) were disrupted by an altercation between a Member and somebody who had appeared before that Committee. I do not want to speak to that matter because it is already being actively adjudicated but that shows you the need for order, whether in terms of plenary sittings or committee sittings, and this is what this Bill is intended to address. 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"
}