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{
    "id": 839095,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/839095/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 133,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "in any way targeting them. In fact, we are trying to enrich and ensure that we come up with laws that will facilitate seamless running of our counties. This will ensure that when somebody is given an office, they do not do as they wish. The threshold of accountability and political governance should go high. I know that collective responsibility and political accountability is something that is rare in this country, like a snow ball in hell. I assure this House that with the coming into force of this law, it will at least deal with this. Governors and anybody else should be assured that they are not the targets. We are trying to assist Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) by giving them the capacity to ensure that they do their work and follow the procedure that is in place. In fact, before impeachment comes to the Senate, we will give them the opportunity to ensure they put in place and follow the procedure, so that they do not run into head winds of legal procedures. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is against this background that this Bill seeks to provide for the procedure for the removal from office by impeachment of the President, Deputy President, Cabinet Secretary (CS), Governor, Deputy Governor and County Executive Committee (CEC) Member. This House has been given powers by the Constitution, especially on the impeachment of the President. Therefore, we are trying to put in place the necessary procedure to factor in some of these issues. For example, where the CS has not discharged his or her duties as provided for by the law or within the tenets that are within the legal framework in this country, they can still be impeached. Apart from the impeachment procedure of Governors and Deputy Governors, the impeachment of a CEC will also ensure their threshold of accountability is high so that when they mess, they can be impeached. In fact, we are giving more powers to MCAs, so that they can assist the governor in running the county as it should be. Therefore, in the first generation of devolution, it is worth noting that most CECs could not be removed from office simply because there was no procedure or process for removal. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Bill provides a definite law on impeachment proceedings, thus ensuring that the removal of certain State office holders is carried out through due process of the law. As I had insisted before, we are now trying to ensure that the process is followed so that someone does not need to move to the courts because of some of the missing links when the procedure started. The Bill also sets mandatory timeliness for various stages which is important in impeachment proceedings, thereby ensuring that the proceedings are expedited further by proposing a period within which court matters relating to impeachment shall be concluded. The Bill will minimize anxiety over prolonged, undecided fate of the chief executive of the nation, county or other members of their cabinet. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is worth noting that most of our judicial processes take longer time than anticipated. Therefore, this Bill will reduce public anxiety and provide enough time to the person being impeached. Article 145 of the Constitution of Kenya read together with Article 150(1) and (2) provide for the removal of the President and Deputy President by impeachment. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes"
}