Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 997210,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/997210/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 160,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Rarieda, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Otiende Amollo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13465,
        "legal_name": "Paul Otiende Amollo",
        "slug": "paul-otiende-amollo"
    },
    "content": "small parties is recognized in our Constitution. Thirdly, it balances the merit of having coalitions. Those are three difficult pillars to balance, but the Communication has endeavored to do it well. As I sit, there are two aspects of that direction, short-term and long-term. The short-term aspect is that the Committee on Selection must now go back to work. The direction is that the 14 Independents are entitled to 36 slots. It requires mathematics and balancing, including balloting and drawing lots. That is short-term and it can be done. Our focus should be on the long-term aspect that there is need to amend the Standing Orders and that might answer the concerns that the Leaders of the Majority and Minority parties are addressing. Do we need a dean of independents? Do the Independents elect their own leader? I think the Standing Orders will cater for that. I suggest that the Leader of the Majority and the Leader of the Minority Party should not let the cat out of the bag too much on this. While it accords enough rights to the Independents and those from minorities/non-parliamentary parties, it will still have the discretion of choosing the Committees to put those who are Independent Members and those from smaller parties. That is a conundrum that will fall at a certain stage. While many might think that this a ruling that only advantages Independent Members and those from small parties, I can tell you that coming from a minority party, the second largest party, we have been suffering. It is not only Hon. Ochieng’ who has been serving one Committee. Many Members, including myself, have been serving in one Committee. The Independent Members and those from smaller parties know how to negotiate. They go to the Majority and the Minority leaders and they get three important Committees while those in the minority get one committee. You have overly helped us in this ruling. Before I sit, I want to seek your direction on a point of order that I raised last week. Is it possible to get a reply today?"
}