Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 706567,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/706567/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 224,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. A.B. Duale",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 15,
        "legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
        "slug": "aden-duale"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I want to thank the many Members who, this afternoon, contributed to this very important piece of proposed legislation known as the Contempt of Court Bill. The primary objective of this Bill is to define what contempt of court is. Secondly, it is to limit the powers of the court in terms of meting punishment for contempt of court and, further, to provide penalties for the offence of contempt of court. As Hon. Maanzo said, by nature your phone can ring in court and it can land you in problems. You can decide to look at a very beautiful lady judge. Depending on how she woke up that morning, she can say that is contempt of court. There are Kenyans, like in the media, and particular journalists whose function is to report from the corridor of justice. They do analysis to inform the public and citizens. Sometimes, heavy penalties are imposed on them. This Bill is trying to set the rules of the game in as far as contempt of court is concerned. It is the first time. We had a colonial one. Now, I think we are saying that, yes, there is contempt of court but, through a piece of legislation the rights of citizens, journalists, litigants and witnesses are also protected in terms of exercising their rights and freedoms as enshrined in the bill of rights of the Constitution. With those many remarks, I am sure we will do more. We will enrich this Bill when it comes to the Committee of the whole House and make it more perfect. But, I want to thank Members, this afternoon from 3.30 p.m. to six O’clock, who have made various insightful and comprehensive contributions on the Contempt of Court Bill, 2016. I beg to reply."
}