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{
    "id": 732926,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/732926/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 38,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Anyango",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 130,
        "legal_name": "Dalmas Anyango Otieno",
        "slug": "dalmas-otieno"
    },
    "content": "Honestly, Hon. Speaker, you will remember very well when we were struggling to increase the number of constituencies. We had a hot debate until we settled for 290 elected Members plus the nominated Members to make a total of 349. Despite that effort, we are yet to comply with the one-third gender rule. It would be ridiculous to excuse ourselves from the requirement of raising quorum. The concept of quorum is for commencement of proceedings. During debate, unless somebody raises the issue of quorum, we continue with whatever number we have in the House. That is the best practice, which we accepted. We put the quorum of the National Assembly in the Constitution to depart from the previous practice. Previously, the quorum was 30 Members, which was hardly 10 per cent. We said we must put it in the Constitution because hon. Members were becoming dishonourable and irresponsible. Therefore, we should admit that if, because of circumstances, we cannot make the quorum, then the logical thing to do is we adjourn and give ourselves enough time to do what we must also do but when we reconvene, we must have a minimum quorum. Otherwise, we will be insulting Kenyans by further derogation of this requirement. I thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}