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{
    "id": 959850,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/959850/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 15,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, I have two Messages from the President. You may recall that on 4th July 2019, the National Assembly passed the Parliamentary Service Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 6 of 2018). This Bill sought to make further provisions as regards the Parliamentary Service Commission and the Parliamentary Service as re-established under the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and to repeal the Parliamentary Service Act of 2000. Thereafter, the Bill was presented for assent to His Excellency the President in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and our Standing Orders. However, in exercise of the powers conferred to the President under Article 115(1)(b) of the Constitution, His Excellency the President, by way of a Memorandum dated 16th August 2019, has since referred the Bill back to the National Assembly for reconsideration. In the Memorandum, the President has expressed reservations on: (a) Clause 20 of the Bill regarding the facilitation of activities held outside the precincts of Parliament by Members and staff of Parliament; and, (b) Clause 43 of the Bill on the remuneration of employees of the Commission. Consequently, the President recommends amendments to the said clauses and the Bill. Standing Order 154(2) requires the House to consider the President’s reservations within 21 days upon receipt of the Memorandum. In this regard, the reservations of the President as contained in his Memorandum now stand committed to the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs for consideration. The Committee should table its Report soonest to allow the House to consider the President’s reservations within the said timeline. May I, at this point, remind the House of the Speaker’s Communication delivered on 28th July 2015 concerning the consideration of President’s reservations to a Bill and amendments thereto. I particularly draw your attention to my guidance that the voting threshold for the passage of amendments proposed by a Committee or an individual Member that may have the effect of fully accommodating the President’s reservations is a simple majority as contemplated under Article 122(1) as read together with Article 115(2)(a) of the Constitution. On the other hand, an amendment that does not fully accommodate the President’s reservations or indeed one that has the effect of total override of the President’s reservations, including negating his proposed text, would require a two-thirds voting threshold to be passed in keeping with the provisions of Article 115(4) of the Constitution. I wish to further reiterate that only the specific sections of the Bill that have reservations ought to be considered. I, therefore, direct now that the Clerk circulates the Memorandum from His Excellency the President to all Members. That is so that you can familiarise yourselves with its contents. I thank you."
}