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{
    "id": 750130,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/750130/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 56,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ndiema",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1067,
        "legal_name": "Henry Tiole Ndiema",
        "slug": "henry-tiole-ndiema"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the following Motion:- THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee on the Election of Members to the EALA laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 15th June, 2017. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as Members are aware, Parliament, both the Senate and the National Assembly, are required under the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community (EAC), to elect Members to the EALA. This is a matter that has been protracted. In a way, we are behind other countries that have already submitted names to the Assembly. There has been some contention between the parties concerned. The Jubilee Coalition was allocated five positions and the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) was allocated four positions. Under the rules that were established by the Select Committee and approved by this House, the individual parties were supposed to submit names not exceeding three times the number allocated. The Jubilee Coalition submitted 15 names which complied with the requirement. The CORD also submitted four names, exactly equal to the number of positions allocated. This became an issue of debate in that, how then do you carry out an election when you have an exact number? The rules that were approved by this House did not specify the minimum number, hence the CORD chose to go by the minimum. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, arising from precedent rulings of the court in the previous election, it was determined by the courts that you cannot have an election if Members are not given the opportunity to elect. Therefore, this Committee submitted a Report to this House. The Report was approved, recommending that the CORD further submits a number of names. By the way, the initial number was four and then another was added to make it five. However, the Committee felt that the CORD submits additional seven names to make it 12. That meant three names for each position allotted. Both Houses approved and communication was given to the two sides. The CORD went ahead and re-submitted the four names. This meant that we came back to the same position. The Committee sat to deliberate on the matter and it was realised that what needed to be done was to amend the rules to conform to the court ruling and principles of election that this House can only elect if there is a choice of nominees to be voted for. Therefore, this Motion seeks that the House adopts this Report to allow a further process, whereby, the rules are appropriately amended."
}