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{
    "id": 1047840,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1047840/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 24,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Alego-Usonga, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Samuel Atandi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13290,
        "legal_name": "Samuel Onunga Atandi",
        "slug": "samuel-onunga-atandi"
    },
    "content": "Therefore, the referendum period which has been provided here as 30 days, in my view, is accommodative. Thirdly, the cost of filing a referendum has been made modest such that if you want to file a petition, you only need to pay Kshs1 million. This is fair and will enable many Kenyans, who are disgruntled with the outcome of the referendum or the process, to seek redress in our courts. This Bill is protecting the citizens of this country from what I call presidential fiat. In many countries especially in Africa, we have seen situations where presidents do not want to retire. When their term for retirement has come, they institute constitutional processes that aim at extending their tenure in office. Therefore, the fact that this Bill is protecting Kenyans by saying that a President cannot initiate a referendum, is very important for all of us and is going to ensure that Kenyans are protected from the presidential fiat. Lastly, I know we are discussing this Bill at a time when we are facing a referendum. We are trying to amend the Constitution through a popular initiative. Therefore, this will mostly crowd our views in a manner that we are likely to look at this referendum Bill and tie it with the referendum that is coming up. I plead with my colleagues that because we want to do referenda in future, you may want to do it again tomorrow and ask Kenyans to vote in a particular matter, let us agree with this law as drafted by the Committee because it is very simple. It will allow the referendum process to be conducted as fast as possible and Kenyans move on with their activities. I support."
}