GET /api/v0.1/hansard/entries/994480/?format=api
HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 994480,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/994480/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 116,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suba North, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Odhiambo Mabona",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 376,
        "legal_name": "Millie Grace Akoth Odhiambo Mabona",
        "slug": "millie-odhiambo-mabona"
    },
    "content": "Having said that, I want to say that as we listen to Hon. Ochieng', we are a House of rules and procedures and we are also a House that adheres to the Constitution. The issues that Hon. Ochieng’ has raised are very pertinent, but as a lawyer and from what he has read and what Hon. Mbadi has read, he knows that he is actually standing on stilts. Our Standing Orders do not support his position because as one-man member of a party, he does not qualify. By his own words, he has said that he even thought he is a one-party member, he only qualifies to be in one committee which is the Departmental Committee on Health when other Members are in two or three committees. Most of them are in the Jubilee Party because of their strength. I am in the Minority Party and I am only in the Budget and Appropriations Committee. Therefore, if that is the procedure, my party could not have worked so hard to get so many seats and he is in the Departmental Committee on Health and I am only in the Budget and Appropriations Committee. It would only be fair that he lets go of the Departmental Committee on Health, so that it is given to me, so that it shows that I am a minority and it is actually in a single party. Having said that, from the pertinent issues being raised from an equality and equity perspective and representation, we need to amend our Standing Orders so that people do not serve at the mercy of the majority or the minority parties. Therefore, let us, as a House, going forward make provisions. I know Hon. Duale is saying no way, but let us make provisions for the reality that there are Members who have come in as independent Members and how they should serve. Even if they are going to serve in half a committee to acknowledge that they are serving, let them serve in half a committee, but just to recognise that they are also representing their constituencies. It may not be now, and I know that is not something my chairman would be keen on supporting, but it is what is in the Constitution that we need to observe human rights and the rule of law on the issues of representation. However, unfortunately, the law as it is, does not support that position and, hence, Hon. Ochieng's very elaborate plea is not currently anchored in law. Therefore, let him release the slot in the Departmental Committee on Health and give it to me. Thank you my good friend, Hon. Ochieng', but that is the reality when you are not in either the Majority Party or the Minority Party."
}