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{
    "id": 824977,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/824977/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 181,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suba South, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Mbadi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": "Parliament; this is my 11th year. I will tell you that the behavior of Members of Parliament in this 12th Parliament is a bit worrying. Hon. Duale talked about friends of committees. I also want to agree that the reason we allow Members to attend committee meetings - even if one is not a member – it is assumed that being a representative of the people, you may have an interest that affects your people. Not that which affects you individually or where you have personal gain. Our Standing Orders are clear. If you have a personal interest, you need to declare it. There is nothing wrong with having personal interests so long as you declare it. We are human beings. Do not go and pretend that you are a friend of a committee, but representing some other interests which will not help in promoting the work of the committee. What bothers me in this Parliament is the issue of respect amongst ourselves. We are supposed to come to this House and debate. You may agree with me or disagree with me. There is no crime in that. But, when we disagree or you lose out to my argument and then you take it and make it a funeral matter and scandalise others, it becomes really worrying. Then, you do not know how to behave. You do not know how to contribute to Parliament. Are we free to debate in this Parliament? Hon. Speaker, you were very tough in the last Parliament. I do not know whether this handshake has made you relax. I see sometimes a behavior that you used not to tolerate in the 11th Parliament. I am not urging you to be a dictator, but I think you need to apply the rules, especially where a Member just wildly makes allegations against another Member. It is scandalous, as it destroys that Member. Unless someone has proof and evidence on the character of a Member, it is not right. In fact, it is disorderly to make allegations against another Member without substantiation. These people have now made it a habit; you just wake up one morning and say, “Hon. Duale is this and that” and nothing happens to you; you do not substantiate. Then you just repeat it again and nothing happens. Without being dictatorial, we need to bring back order in this House. We need to bring back ethics. Sometimes people who have no fairness... I do not know whether it is about ability to debate in this House or what. Sometimes I ask myself whether it is a crime to be eloquent."
}