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"id": 943753,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/943753/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri",
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"legal_name": "Samson Kegeo Ongeri",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I want to join my colleagues in appreciating and congratulating you for the ruling. This ruling is fitting at this moment of time, when we seem to have a paradox on the rules or procedures that need to be followed on either side, whether at the Judicial level, or at the Senate level. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, my understanding of the Constitution is that the ruling of the impeachment is a preserve of the county assembly and the Senate. Until such a time this Senate pronounces itself on an Impeachment Motion which has been generated by a county government, it would be difficult for any branch of Government, including the Judiciary, to come in and interfere with that process. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the same way there are rules or procedures that are adopted at the various levels of the court – be it at the High Court, the Magistrates Court, the Appellate Court and the Supreme Court – similarly, there are also rules and procedures that are adopted and which Parliament follows through our Standing Orders on how to impeach a governor or even a President. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have listened very carefully to that ruling. I was listening to it during the coffee break, and I decided to come in and hear you out loud and clear. I, therefore, want to join you by saying that, indeed, you have not stated anything outside the rules and procedures that govern this House. Therefore, you are within the realms of this, and I call that a Solomonic ruling, because it needs to be available. Earlier on, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Sen. Kajwang’ said that we are getting conflicting signals when it comes to the business of the committees. We were being injuncted left, right and center for carrying out our normal duties in accordance with the oversight rule that is given to us through Article 96 of the Constitution. Indeed, your ruling conforms to what I believe would have been Article 181 of our Constitution; to the fidelity of the reasons why a governor is being impeached. The only other body that can take over that matter is this Senate, when the matter is properly presented before the Senate through the normal procedure. I, therefore, congratulate you for this ruling. We stand by you, and we stand by this ruling. We would like this information to be available to our county assembles, because sometimes in our engagement with them through the CPAIC, we find out that they need a lot of learning on the procedures that they need to follow so that they can be the first primary centers of action before it comes to the Senate; call it an appellate body. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}