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{
    "id": 757554,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/757554/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 108,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Dido",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2749,
        "legal_name": "Col (Rtd) Ali Rasso Dido",
        "slug": "col-rtd-ali-rasso-dido"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I rise to support this Motion. At the outset, I want to say that even the Supreme Court was never in doubt about who won the election of the President on 8th August 2017. Clearly, President Kenyatta got 8 million plus votes and Hon. Odinga got over 6 million votes. Therefore, what the Supreme Court had an issue with is the process. We just have to explain to our respective constituents, that is, Wanjiku, Mariam, Guyo and others, why the Kenyan election of the President on 8th August was invalidated. The most important document in this House is the Constitution. It is what we swore by in this House. We cannot interpret or read the Constitution selectively in areas it does not favour us or just read the line that favours our argument. We must interpret or read the Constitution holistically so that our position as legislators to defend the will of our people who have sent us to this House is done. Article 1(1) of the Constitution says: “All sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya and shall be exercised only in accordance with this Constitution”. One of the ways to achieve this is through elections. If you aspire to go to a higher office then you should go for elections. If there are contentious issues particularly under Article 95, then we can call for a referendum. Article 38 talks about the Bill of Rights. You are allowed to picket and to petition. It does not state that if you want to petition the courts, you go to the courts, but when you want to remove the IEBC you go picket in their offices. If we look at the width and the breadth of what is happening, they are trying to remove people from their legally charged duties through unconstitutional means. It is what this House, in the fullness of time, must start to appreciate. Under Article 143 of the Constitution, if the Supreme Court determines the election of the President to be invalid, a fresh election shall be held within 60 days after that determination. The Constitution further provides, under Article 142(1), that the President shall hold office for a term beginning on the date on which the President was sworn in and ending on when the person next elected President in accordance with Article 136(2) is sworn in."
}