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{
    "id": 984254,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/984254/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 40,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "The truth of the matter is that in so many of the things that are happening, we have allowed them as leaders in this Republic. As MPs, we have abdicated our responsibilities all in the spirit of trying to remain decent and not appear to be questioning what the Government is doing. We are hoping that you extend a hand of goodwill to the Government and expect that they will behave within the confines of the law. Well, the unfortunate thing is that no government anywhere in the world does that. That is why you have a Parliament to check on the excesses of the Government when things are normal. How about a time like now when we are living in abnormal times? Mr. Speaker, Sir, as a House of Parliament, it is time we begin questioning many of the decisions that the Executive is taking without the approval of Parliament. It is not good enough to just say that because we are in a pandemic, the Government has a free reign to do anything. Even according to Section 58 of our Constitution when you declare a state of emergency, after 21 days, you need to revert to Parliament to get additional time to do that. This curfew that has been going on, for example, it is time that the Government comes back to us and says these are the reasons that we feel as Parliament you need to extend additional time to us. See what happened the other day where somebody sits at a particular office, gazettes regulations and says if you are a citizen and you are found without a face mask, you will be charged Kshs20,000. The amount of Kshs20,000 is an arm and a leg to the ordinary Kenyan. Some of the people making these resolutions do not know what ordinary Kenyans go through. Therefore, as a House of Parliament, and this is expressly provided under Article 94 (5), no other body apart from Parliament has the authority to give instructions that have the force of law except Parliament."
}