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{
    "id": 691907,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/691907/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 63,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Khaniri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 171,
        "legal_name": "George Munyasa Khaniri",
        "slug": "george-khaniri"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, first, I thank the Senate Minority Leader and my coalition for having confidence in me by proposing my name as a Member of the Special Committee to look in to the matter. I thank him very much for having confidence in me. However, Standing Order 68 which the Chair referred to gives the House two options. The Standing Order 68 (1) (b) provides that:- “The Senate by resolution may appoint a Special Committee comprising of eleven of its Members to investigate the matter.” Mr. Speaker, Sir, the wording here is ‘may.’ In the Chair’s Communication, it was clear that we have an option. However, if we do not choose to establish a Special Committee, then there is another option of disposing the matter through the Plenary. We have had four impeachment cases before this House, namely; from Kericho, Embu, Machakos and Murang’a Counties. In all these four cases, as a House, we unanimously decided to determine them by committing them to a Special Committee. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the disadvantage with the establishment of the Special Committee is that when the Committee finds that the allegations by the county assembly have not been substantiated, then it ties the hands of the House completely and we cannot do anything. We have to live by the decision of the Committee. Mr. Speaker, Sir, having had that experience of going through the Committee in the four cases, I want to plead with Members of this House that we should try and go the Plenary way this time round. Since you have read the charges and the allegations by the county assembly to this House, give Members two or three days to look at the charges. We should then come back here, debate and take a vote. The Committee way gives us ten days and I believe we still have the ten days if we decide to go the Plenary way. I remember the case of Murang’a County where Members had very strong feelings. The Committee, led by my good brother, Sen. Musila, came up with a contrary opinion to what most Members had thought at that particular time. Sen. Musila was condemned strongly by some of us."
}