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{
    "id": 1064476,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1064476/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 173,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Makali Mulu",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1955,
        "legal_name": "Benson Makali Mulu",
        "slug": "benson-makali-mulu"
    },
    "content": "That means the IEBC was aware of this matter for the last two years. How come today they are saying they were not aware? To me, that should have been considered by the Committee. The second issue is that of the Media Council Board. When you look at their Act, it is clearly stated who should be a member of that council. So, if you form a committee and say these are the Members, it means anybody else outside the membership is not a member. The same way in a situation where they say “these should be the members”, it means anybody outside that bracket can become a member because they are saying so and so cannot be a member. I get worried when I see somebody who is a member and falls within the bracket of those who should be members, being punished for being a member. The third issue is that of permanent employment and part-time employment. Most of us here have been board members in parastatals. We only earn a sitting allowance. If you look at the Mwongozo, it says you can only meet four times in a year. So, the question is this: Is part-time employment equal to permanent employment? I think the answer to that is a big no. So, on that basis, there are so many public servants who are public officers who are serving in boards and they are not being punished basically because it is a part-time employment. The other thing is that, as a board member, you only provide strategic direction to an organisation. You are not a day-to-day operator. You only go there when there are meetings to discuss policy issues and you go back to your position. So, I think this is unfair. Hon. Speaker, there is this issue of the Media Council. The question is this: Is it a parastatal just like we have the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and any other Government parastatal? I think the answer is no. That is because to some extent, this is an independent body that is taking care of the interests of the media fraternity. If you look at all the submissions by the media unions, they are saying that they have no objection to this person being a member of the board. What I think is happening in that place is that somebody is running away from accountability. I think the CEO of that organisation - and I must come out clearly - does not want to be held accountable. The Committee is now assisting the CEO to run away from accountability. I think this is very unfair to this country."
}