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{
    "id": 732348,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/732348/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 122,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The basic concept underpinning parliamentary privilege is the need to ensure, so far as possible, that a Member of the legislature and witnesses before committees of the House can speak freely without fear that what they say in Parliament will later be held against them in courts of law or other adverse proceedings. In the Commonwealth of the United Kingdom, Lord Neuberger, Master of the Rolls, reports that freedom of speech and debate in Parliament is ―an absolute privilege and is of the highest constitutional importance. Any attempts by the courts to contravene parliamentary privilege would be unconstitutional. No court order could conceivably restrict or prohibit parliamentary debate or proceedings.‖ Hon. Members, in the present matter, I am, of course, aware that in Kenya, the prevalent constitutional law principle is constitutional democracy and not necessarily that of parliamentary supremacy as practised in the United Kingdom. But so long as Article 117 is part of our Constitution and that the Article protects freedom of speech and debate in the Houses of Parliament, I am of the view that the court order stopping a committee of the House and the House itself from debating or taking decisions on matters lawfully and constitutionally before the The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}