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{
    "id": 1049335,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1049335/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 44,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Prof.) Jacqueline Oduol",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13171,
        "legal_name": "wilson sossion",
        "slug": "wilson-sossion"
    },
    "content": "how the people, themselves, in guidance with the law that exists, can express or make clear what they are looking for. The promoters of the popular initiative would be the ones with the responsibility of framing the question. It should not be something that would be discussed, given to some other body or somebody else. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the fourth point that I would want to make concerns power that would be seen to be given to the IEBC. When we look at resolution No.8, I am in agreement that the power to make regulations should not be given to the IEBC. As we have said and many Members have pointed out, we would like to be sure that we do not have an atmosphere where with one hand, we are allowing and giving the citizens enough room through popular initiative to come up with what they would want to see reflected in an amendment and with the other hand, taking it back through getting the IEBC to come up with regulations. I do not have to say and repeat that there is a sense in which, as we look at the verification of signatures, as was said yesterday by one Hon. Member, it is a wonder to the citizenry in Kenya the manner in which the IEBC would verify signatures because they do not have a repository of signatures. As indicated, what they would do is to go by what the referendum requires, that they are able to confirm that the request or petition brought to them is, indeed, supported by a minimum number of registered voters. So, the key issue is that of voters and the verification of whether those who are seeking to make the change by popular initiative are registered voters. This is the mandate of the IEBC. I agree with the joint committee that as we look at the Bill, we would not want to have the IEBC given power to make regulations. I want to speak to the application of the Elections Act. As we are going to be talking about the referendum, we would want to be sure that we are allowing, as much as is possible, a clear way by which the very idea, response, answer or choice of the citizenry is captured accurately. In this regard, therefore, it is important that we have a clear application that is provided for that would enable us to engage the Elections Act and at the very least, ensure that when we are tallying, we are doing this in a way that we can link to what already exists and not have a situation where we would have an amorphous unit or standard, such as the county, as opposed to what already exists. As I support this Bill, I support it with amendments. We want to be clear that as we come up with law, we are speaking specifically to how we would amend the Constitution and look at it. Not us talking about a particular short time interest such as the Building Bridges Initiative. Our responsibility as Members of Parliament is to ensure that we come up with legislation that captures the views, desires and needs of the people. I support with amendments. I thank you."
}