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{
    "id": 991483,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/991483/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 329,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kimilili, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Didmus Barasa",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1885,
        "legal_name": "Didmus Wekesa Barasa Mutua",
        "slug": "didmus-wekesa-barasa-mutua"
    },
    "content": " Thank you Hon. Speaker, I also rise to support this Motion. Parliament is very important in discharging its duties whether during the pandemic or not. We must make everything possible as we continue to transact our business. Hon. Speaker, as we move towards this virtual technology we also need to bring on board some of the problems that we saw when we were doing this meeting. It was clear that nearly 90 per cent of the Members who participated online were doing it from their cars and the farm. So, these are some of the challenges, even the gracious lady Hon. Member for Lamu was in some kind of a farm and her six year old son kept coming and going. So, we should have guidelines when we are developing these regulations. This matter is not difficult. The Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) pays offices for Hon. Members; they can as well pay for gadgets in boardrooms which can be configured to ensure that we make contributions from our constituency offices, link through the Hansard and go a notch higher. The challenges of catching the Speaker’s eye when you are attending the meeting virtually need to be addressed. If you have something important or if you are an expert in a subject matter you can write to the Hon. Speaker so that he goes through before the session begins. That way, you know that Hon. TJ Kajwang’, for example, has a very good write up then you can give him priority. There is no way this House can fail to transact business for whatever circumstances. Without Parliament the Executive becomes rogue and may turn around the Constitution. Without Parliament, the Executive cannot know what is in the mind of Kenyans. The aspirations and wishes of Kenyans are communicated to the Executive through their representatives. Therefore, this House is very important and no matter the circumstances, we are the last line of defence for Kenyans. We should therefore be the last people to close doors for whatever circumstances. This is because the Constitution gives power to Kenyans. As we move forward, we should do so with speed. I want to encourage Members if they have good suggestions, they can forward them to the Committee so that when it sits to deliberate on how to go about this matter, it will have a pool of resources from the MPs to tap in. With those few remarks, I support."
}