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{
"id": 819937,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/819937/?format=api",
"text_counter": 55,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Hon. Members, remember, you make the Standing Orders. Those of you who were in the 11th Parliament will remember that just before the House went to recess sine die, we sat here for several hours, making amendments to the Standing Orders and you were at liberty to make a decision one way or the other. There is a serious point which has been raised by various speakers, but more specifically by Hon. Otiende Amollo. If this House at this point decides that this petition should not be referred to the committee, it is within the prerogative of the House to do so. Like I pointed out, if indeed Hon. Ouda felt he wanted to propose amendments to the Constitution, even after receiving pressure from his constituents, he could go ahead and do so. He does not appear to be under pressure right now; you can see he is relaxed. I like the way he is relaxed. Maybe, when he goes back to the village he will be under a lot of pressure. Please, Hon. Ouda, like I said earlier on, you are still within your right to do the proposals so that they go to the people. This House can still reject this petition now by saying, in terms of what Hon. Otiende Amollo has said, it may be a waste of time. You are calling for the interpretation of the various constitutional provisions, inter alia, Articles 137 and 142. Also, more specifically, you have given various provisions relating to what constitutes the presidency and all those things. Those are matters that would be best left in the domain of the Judiciary. If you feel that a person who runs as a Deputy President or Deputy Governor belongs to the presidency and the governorship, as you have particularised in this petition, and that therefore, if they run for two terms, that dis-entitles them from seeking the presidency and/or governorship in subsequent elections, on account merely that they were, in your own words, in the presidency or in the governorship, that is a matter that is weighty. I think in the wisdom of the framers of the Constitution, one of whom is seated just behind you, it is a matter that needs the interpretation of the High Court, in terms of Article 165. I have my own views of whether that is where it should be located but, as you know, I have no vote. It is only that sometimes I wear some seeing aids. I am not even supposed to see. Nevertheless, Members are desirous of commenting on this petition, including the Member for Kiminini. You will have two minutes each, so that we dispose of the matter. As you make your comments—remember, you can only make comments—can you also address me on the issues raised by Hon. Otiende Amollo, inter alia?"
}