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{
    "id": 808547,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/808547/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 134,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suna East, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Junet Nuh",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2840,
        "legal_name": "Junet Sheikh Nuh",
        "slug": "junet-sheikh-nuh"
    },
    "content": "serious matter of contraband sugar that is before them. What happens if owners of that sugar go to court tomorrow and get orders stopping the committees from investigating? Is that the kind of Parliament that this country wants to have under this Constitution? We must tell the Judiciary, in no uncertain terms, that they are intruding into other arms of government’s business. It is our responsibility as Members of this House to protect and defend authorities that have been conferred by the Constitution to this House. And we derive our authority from the people. It is in the Constitution. We legislate on behalf of the people of this Republic. So, when a judge sits and writes a long judgment that makes the whole House malfunction… The committees of the House cannot function. Very soon they are even going to say we cannot sit. A judge might order that Parliament should sit only once a week. Or when he knows that we are going to discuss issues that are very important, he can just injunct you and tell you: Speaker, you cannot convene the sitting of the House this Tuesday until the court order is suspended. This is misuse of the powers of the Judiciary. We respect the Judiciary. We normally allocate enough funds. We have very cordial relationship with the Judiciary. The Budget Committee normally gives them the money that they request for. But we cannot watch as the Judiciary becomes rogue. We cannot allow one arm of the Government to become rogue. Even when we pass Bills here and they are assented to by the President, they are taken to them. They are the ones who interpret. They have suspended many Acts that we have passed here. They suspended the Security Laws (Amendment) Act and the Computer and Cybercrime Act. We have never complained. We keep quiet and say: Let the Judiciary interpret the law as we have passed it. If there is any mistake made, we can amend and rectify. But when it is our turn to do our business, I do not know whether they want to protect cartels which are supposed to appear before those committees. I am foreseeing a scenario where some of those people who are being called before committees of the House will end up going to court and getting orders gagging the committees from hearing them. We cannot allow an arm of Government to become a refuge for cartels and criminals. I do not want to belabour the matter. This House must stand up and defend the Constitution. We are not going to be the last parliamentarians. Parliament existed before us, since Independence, and it is going to be there after us. So, if we allow this Parliament to be mutilated through the Judiciary, it is us as Members of the 12th Parliament who are going to be held responsible. You are a renowned lawyer, Hon. Speaker. You should have been the Chief Justice if you were not here. Defend the Constitution. As the Chairman of PSC, do not allow that kind of thing to happen. Otherwise, you will go down in history as the Chairman of PSC who allowed Parliament to be gagged by courts and magistrates. Very soon, we shall get gag orders even from tribunals, like the rent tribunal that we have not paid rent for one of the houses here. Hon. Speaker, I request that you allow a few Members to comment on it. The issue is so important to the House. Allow a few Members to speak to it. Thank you so much, Hon. Speaker."
}