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{
    "id": 768800,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/768800/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 66,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ng’ongo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Ben Momanyi is another lawyer nominated to the Committee who comes from the Wiper Democratic Movement. He is also another experienced Member serving his second term. We also have Zuleikha Hassan who is serving a second term. We also have two Members who are serving for the first time in this Parliament. We have Hon. Beatrice Adagala who comes from the great county of Vihiga and a Member of Parliament from Amani National Congress. Hon. Speaker, I have no doubt in my mind, in the short time I have interacted with Hon. Adagala that she will also bring a lot of value to this Committee. Finally, we have Hon. (Dr.) Pamela Odhiambo, Member of Parliament for Migori County. This is a don. I do not want to call her a former lecturer because she could still be teaching. This is a lady I have interacted with for a bit of time and I know she is going to add value to this Committee. I ask them to move with speed and introduce amendments that are desirable. They should also look at Standing Orders because they are always being changed on the basis of circumstances and political environment. Finally, even as I appreciate the amendments that were done to the Standing Order No.176, and I agree that our Constitution promulgated in 2010 brought with it due process, there is need, whatever decision we take, we need to be just. That is a principle in the Constitution. Due process is very important. If a Member is de-whipped, he needs to be explained the reason. I also want us to be alive to the fact that we have borrowed heavily from mature democracies. We are members of the Commonwealth. We know that whipping is very important in the Commonwealth. When a party cracks a whip, it is an important action. So, we need to lecture and educate our Members that it is important especially on a matter where a party has taken a decision to respect it unless they want to go independent. We have a number of Independent Members here. One of them is seated next to me. He is Hon. Shakeel Shabbir who was a very faithful Member of my party. I do not know what happened that he had to come to this House on an Independent ticket. I know his heart is still in ODM. Whatever happened, we will make sure that it does not happen again. If the people of Kisumu East love him the way they do, they will vote him in on an ODM ticket. If a Member does not agree always with the party position, the best thing to do is to go independent. The step to take is that one which my party leader took one time. I remember Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga did not agree with FORD- Kenya at the end of 1996. He decided to move to another party; National Development Party (NDP). I was one of the very strong youth at that time of his team. I remember when he told us that he was going to joining NDP we endorsed it. He resigned from Parliament and won his seat on the NDP ticket. If a Member feels strongly that he cannot agree with a party position, the best thing to do is to leave the party. It is not nice to find a Member of Jubilee Party opposing all the time. It can happen once or twice because we are people with individual thoughts, but it should not happen that every day you disagree with the party that sponsored you to Parliament. It is like you conned the electorate. I campaigned on the basis of ODM manifesto and on NASA in general. The voters voted for me not because of me as individual but as an ODM candidate. The moment I start fighting ODM, I will be betraying the trust and the confidence the Suba South had in me when they voted me. With those many remarks, I second the Motion and ask the House to approve these names for appointment to the Procedure and House Rules Committee. Thank you."
}