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{
    "id": 846618,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/846618/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 145,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "authority of this House to reject the entire Bill if it so finds or, indeed, reject any of the proposed amendments. In particular, with regard to this Bill, you will recall that several Committees have had occasion to look at the specific Acts proposed to be amended and did public participation. They all filed reports. The only requirement being, for the one of order, that those reports were amalgamated and tabled by the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. But they came from various other departmental committees. If there is any challenge, it is one that goes to whether the public of Kenya has participated as required under the Constitution. Let us not tie ourselves with those other considerations. If anybody thinks that the Bills as passed are having anything unconstitutional, it should be their business to go and do that interpretation. The House will be guided. Let us not try to arm-string ourselves with thinking that, maybe, there is any precedent that has been set merely because in interpreting a law which may have been passed, some finding may have been made regarding constitutionality or otherwise of any of the provisions. There has never been a precedent that says: “Do not use miscellaneous amendment processes”. But I know that, as we had agreed with Hon. (Dr.) Otiende Amollo, maybe, the other issue can be raised at some other time. It is because I can see there are several Members who had wanted to contribute to this. It is the one as to whether the Leader of the Majority Party should be the one signing all Bills. It is a matter which belongs to this House. Perhaps, it is not me to determine. This House has been given powers to make Standing Orders under Article 124. It is up to you people, Members of this House, to make provision in the Standing Orders as you find befitting. Hon. John Mbadi, this will ensure that it is not the Speaker to decide that the Bills will be signed by the chair of a committee. Those of you who can remember, the very first post-election workshop in the 11th Parliament was held in the South Coast. Hon. Kajwang’ was there. Some of the experts we had invited from jurisdictions that have presidential systems indicated that Bills emanating from the Executive are published in the name of any Member on request. But, of course, you are at liberty to make adjustments as you find appropriate. I should not be the one to make the determination. I know Hon. Otiende Amollo has been very passionate about that particular subject. Remember you have Procedure and House Rules Committee which you could suggest amendments to. At the end of the day, it is for the entire House to apply its mind and see how best to address that issue."
}