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{
    "id": 576352,
    "url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/576352/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 227,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) F.I. Ali",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13152,
        "legal_name": "Fatuma Ibrahim Ali",
        "slug": "fatuma-ibrahim-ali"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I stand to support the Bill. This is relatively a straight forward amendment. It is a simple matter of changing the date from August to December. I commend Hon. Ochieng for fast-tracking this kind of amendment. We are used to last minute amendments which cause a lot of confusion. Last week, I was in Nyeri and Isiolo counties for public hearings and overwhelmingly, Kenyans said that the December date, which is being proposed, is the most appropriate and ideal date. About 90 per cent of them sought to support moving the election date from August to December. They also deliberated on the likely extension of some few months of Parliament’s life, and said that that is not substantive for them. They said that what is important for them is that August is not appropriate because of a number of activities that take place in that month. Farmers in Nyeri said that August is a very busy month for them. That is when they harvest their crops and prepare to sell them. The pastoralists in Isiolo said that August is the harshest and the most complicated month for them. It is a draught period when animals are far away from most of the urban areas. They also said that if the date of August is retained, there will be a likelihood of them not turning up for voting in the next general election in 2017. That is very crucial for most of the candidates and Kenyans who will be seeking votes. Kenyans also said that August is a short holiday for schools and colleges, and does not give adequate time for people to participate in the elections. The campaign mood affects the calendar of the students and pupils who sit for their examinations in October and November. This will interfere with serious moments of our students’ life. Some of the governors whom we met said that their five year strategic plans are likely to be fulfilled by December, 2017. They said the August date, which is in the Constitution, is in the middle of their five year plan. This means that it will not help them to fulfill their five year plans. The date of December might walk them towards the finalisation of their five year terms. Generally, the mood of the people in the constituencies whom we visited is that December is the most ideal time for elections to happen. I support the Bill."
}