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{
"id": 1406371,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406371/?format=api",
"text_counter": 297,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mbeere North, DP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Ruku GK",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. First, I commend the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs for the work they have done as far as the Bill is concerned. The NADCO team comprised the Minority and the Majority parties. It was a well-composed team that looked at the issues affecting our nation. One of the issues that came up strongly was to do with IEBC. The recommendations in this Bill need to be supported. If you look at the definition of what a parliamentary party is, it is a great omission. There has been a very big push and pull in this House to define what a parliamentary party means. I remember the Speaker came up with a ruling that the Jubilee Party was one of the parliamentary parties. If this was clearly defined within our laws, and in this case in the IEBC Act, this House would not have gone through such rigorous ways of coming The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
},
{
"id": 1406372,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406372/?format=api",
"text_counter": 298,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mbeere North, DP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Ruku GK",
"speaker": null,
"content": "up with a ruling from the Speaker to define what a parliamentary party is. This is a welcome amendment, and it will save this nation from the push and pull in terms of fidelity to political parties. Second, the amendment that revises the term limit of the secretary to the IEBC to a single six-year term is welcome. It is important for whoever will be the holder of the office to have confidence that he will not serve for three years and then face a panel or go home. Six years is enough for any innovative secretary to implement different innovative solutions that can solve quite a number of challenges that we have encountered in past general elections. We need innovative solutions in this very important institution for the Republic of Kenya. Without IEBC, this country can sink into anarchy. Therefore, the stability of the secretary of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's office is extremely important, and a six-year term is welcome. The amendment concerning delimitation of boundaries is of importance. Quite a number of constituencies are threatened to be scrapped at the moment. One of them is my constituency, Mbeere North. The people of the Republic of Kenya and these boundaries have been curved randomly by the IEBC. The focus has not just been on boundaries but also fundamental parameters such as customs, terrain, population, geographical considerations, culture, and the history of the people. These are key considerations. You know very well that there are different sources of law, and one of them is customs. The boundaries of the constituencies in Kenya cannot be formed without considering the customs of the people. Therefore, there is a way you can be insensitive as far as the customs, origins of the people, and even the economic activities of those people are concerned. If you are not sensitive as far as those factors are concerned, then it can easily create anarchy not only in this country but also in Africa. Today, we are experiencing anarchy in Kerio Valley, and some of these things are extremely important. You realise that sometimes there is a dispute in terms of the boundaries in that area, and probably that is one of the origins of the conflicts that have belaboured this nation over the years. The delimitation of electoral units and the proposals that this amendment is seeking to be effected are well considered. At the same time, we cannot talk only about the population; we also need to talk about other factors, as I have mentioned. At the moment, we do not have a Member of Parliament from Mandera County because we do not have an operational IEBC in place. Therefore, if we move quickly to ensure some of these amendments are done, and the IEBC is well constituted, then the people of the constituency in Mandera County will get their rightful representation in this House—not only the constituency in Mandera but also other wards that are vacant today. It is also important to note that IEBC staff are still incurring expenditures. It will be important to understand how that expenditure is being incurred, and we do not have commissioners at the moment. I know the budget that will be read in this House in a couple of days or months from now will have an element of factoring in the budget for IEBC. I do not know how that budget was arrived at when we do not have commissioners. Therefore, there is a possibility of illegality as far as the allocation of the budget to IEBC is concerned. This is because IEBC is an independent body. We cannot say it is under any Ministry at the moment, but it works in collaboration with other Ministries. At the moment, the staff at IEBC are likely to have allocated themselves powers for which they do not have to submit the budget, which will be tabled in this House. I request your wisdom, Hon. Temporary Speaker, so that the House does not consider a budget that has not followed the appropriate legal procedures until we constitute a proper IEBC. Through this amendment, we are going to ensure that IEBC is properly constituted. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I submit and support. Thank you."
},
{
"id": 1406373,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406373/?format=api",
"text_counter": 299,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Omboko Milemba",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 13328,
"legal_name": "Jeremiah Omboko Milemba",
"slug": "jeremiah-omboko-milemba"
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"content": " Hon. Simon King’ara, followed by Hon. Julius Mawathe. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
},
{
"id": 1406374,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406374/?format=api",
"text_counter": 300,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Ruiru, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Simon King’ara",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to support this timely amendment Bill. Everybody here came through an election conducted by IEBC. As we sit here, IEBC is not there, so such business cannot continue. This Bill is very timely, and it needs to move quickly. If we are to align ourselves on election matters, we have to have a set of regulations that come through an amendment like this Bill. We also know that after a given time, we are supposed to review our boundaries. We can use the aligned IEBC regulations to review the boundaries. The Bill adheres to the NADCO agreement. We came together and decided to own our country as one unit. One way to own our country is to work with regulations that accommodate everybody. This bill has found it worthwhile to increase the selection panel from seven to nine. This will allow many participants to be included in shortlisting and other tasks. When everybody is accommodated, running the activity is smooth. We know that everybody might not be accommodated, but when a good number is accommodated in a process, then we will have smooth elections and the development of our country. As it was said earlier, election performance leads to the growth of any institution. If the election is not conducted in the right manner, you do not expect good results. The Bill is sensitive to an individual's performance. I agree with the amendment of having a commissioner work for three years, which is renewable after good performance. If there is no good performance, the commissioner can give room for any other person to do the work. The proposal to do a review after a general election will address shortcomings, and the report can be used to improve future elections. That means progressively improving the status and standards of our elections to match those of other parts of the world, noting that we are part of the Commonwealth, where we are supposed to do things in the right way. During the 2019 Census, Ruiru Constituency which I represent, had a population of over 400,000 with an anticipated growth projection of 10 per cent bringing the number to 500,000. Without the IEBC, which we have taken time to constitute, we cannot have that review. I have written to this honourable House through a petition that will be coming to your desk soon. Good representation makes progress in matters of development in a given area and subsides pressure that comes when things are not done the right way. We are aware that the country has decided to work as one team. How do we work as a team? It is by constituting laws which will make us work as one-fold. One way is to have a body, that is IEBC, which will conduct credible, genuine and accommodative elections. How do we have IEBC? It is by constituting a panel which fully represents the community around. I stand to support this and wish that all Hon. Members also support it so that it goes to the next step. May it be done before we go for the long recess. Thank you."
},
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"id": 1406375,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406375/?format=api",
"text_counter": 301,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Embakasi South, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Julius Mawathe",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for this opportunity to contribute to this important Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.10 of 2024). It is long overdue and because of its delay, there has been a delay in the appointment of IEBC Commissioners. I give kudos to the NADCO team that was led by Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka, the Leader of the Majority Party, Hon. Ichung’wah and the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs for the wonderful job they have done in putting this together. We appreciate that henceforth IEBC will have a secretary who shall serve for a three- year renewable term just like all the CEOs of the Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs). The issue of the selection panel cuts across very well. There are appointments of nominees from the Parliamentary Service Commission, the Political Parties Liaison Committee, the Law Society of Kenya, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
},
{
"id": 1406376,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406376/?format=api",
"text_counter": 302,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Embakasi South, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Julius Mawathe",
"speaker": null,
"content": "and political parties. There is need to talk about their independence. If the referee is not neutral, there is a chance of there being squabbles. In the last three elections, we have had post-election issues and challenges. That falls back on how IEBC and the referee are perceived to have performed. This time we must come up with a referee who does not favour either side. This is why putting together a bigger panel is better since they come from across the board. There is also the issue of the independence of IEBC. It must be independent. I am talking about the delimitation of boundaries because it affects us, especially the Members of Parliament for Nairobi County and the surrounding areas. If you look at Embakasi South Constituency, the population has grown by approximately 84 per cent. That is from a population of 300,000 to about 580,000 people with 169,000 registered voters. There is need to subdivide such constituencies. Out of the 290 constituencies, some have about 60,000 or 80,000 residents. Some of those constituencies have a higher population than some counties. Embakasi South Constituency has a higher population than Tharaka Nithi or Lamu counties. We need to figure out a way to delimit those constituencies and reduce their population sizes. During the delimitation of constituencies in 2011/2012, we did not have skyscrapers in Pipeline area. Most buildings currently have 10 floors or more. Buildings in slum areas did not even have a first floor back then. Therefore, we need to think about how we will delimit the constituencies and reduce their population sizes. Nairobi’s population was about 2 million. It is now 4.6 to 4.8 million. We need to delimit and subdivide the constituencies, not only within Nairobi County that had been given a provision to subdivide constituencies and get an additional 12 constituencies, but also places like Kiambu. I know there is the discussion that delimitation of constituencies should not be based on population size alone. However, we serve human beings who form the population. Some constituencies carry a slightly heavier population load than others. I support the Bill."
},
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"id": 1406377,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406377/?format=api",
"text_counter": 303,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Hon. Omboko Milemba)"
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{
"id": 1406378,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406378/?format=api",
"text_counter": 304,
"type": "heading",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": ":"
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{
"id": 1406379,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406379/?format=api",
"text_counter": 305,
"type": "other",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Hon. Daniel Karitho followed by Hon. Anthony Oluoch."
},
{
"id": 1406380,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406380/?format=api",
"text_counter": 306,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Igembe Central, JP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Daniel Karitho",
"speaker": {
"id": 1574,
"legal_name": "Cyprian Kubai Iringo",
"slug": "cyprian-kubai-iringo"
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"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to add my voice to this very important amendment Bill on the IEBC. It is very important to have a Commission in place that is human-friendly and very concerned about the wellbeing of the electorate. I like the clause that states that the Commission shall, after every general election, review its operations and make necessary changes. To err is human. Even the Commission can make mistakes. It is good that they will now have the chance to review their performance and make changes. After reviewing and making necessary changes to make their operations more efficient, effective, transparent and accountable, they will still publish the report in the KenyaGazette and submit it to Parliament. This means the Commission will have an opportunity to see how they have performed. We can then correct any errors. The Commission will also have effective leaders. The commissioners will be picked by a selection panel made up of a team of eminent persons picked from different sectors in this country. Therefore, we will have a very efficient and effective Commission that will effectively and thoroughly handle election affairs in this country. It is also very important to note that I support the provision of a secretary. A secretary will serve for a given period of time. These changes will have a time framework, whereby one will serve for a specific duration. The secretary, who will also be the Chief Executive Officer, will serve for three years. He or she will serve very carefully knowing that his or her term is limited and can be reviewed according to his or her performance. The Commission will handle delimitation of boundaries. Some constituencies have challenges. For example, my constituency had a population of 250,000 as per the 2019 Census, The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
}
]
}