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{
    "id": 1071560,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1071560/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 182,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Ndegwa Njiru",
    "speaker_title": "The Advocate for Wajir County Governor",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, we will be very brief in utilizing the time that is remaining simply because this House is this evening called upon to relook as to whether they shall have a Pontius Pilate moment, where the innocent is crucified and the guilty are set free. The Pontius Pilate moment is not unique to our provisions of law. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is largely said in the common law principles that it is better to release 100 convicts other than have one innocent person convicted. That innocent person is before you this evening. Hon. Members, a Pontius Pilate moment is before you in the sense that within all the other allegations, some of the grievous allegations touching on the utilization of the finances and the resources of this country, the governor has been set free. That shows that the governor does not have itchy fingers. That shows that the governor has never had his hands in the cookie jar. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is phenomenon for persons serving in public services, most importantly in the position of the governor to find themselves having crisscrossed with public finances. Even as we look at the fate of the governor this evening, the governor has been acquitted of all those charges. What remains is to interrogate whether what has been presented before this House meets the threshold. The thing that remains to be interrogated, as my learned friend has indicated, is whether this House shall be guided by the principle of its doctrines and the doctrines of precedence that has been set previously. It remains to be found whether the governor before you, who pleads for your mercy, will have an equal treatment of the law. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is calling for a moment of equality of arms. It is calling for a moment where Article 27 ought to be put into consideration. It is giving a comparative study of the impeachments that have been brought before you and this House, with the recent one where there was an acquittal of Gov. Waiguru. The County Assembly brought three witnesses all of whom were medical doctors, the star witness being Dr. Gor Goody. They gave a clear analysis of how the health system had broken down in Kirinyaga County. Most importantly, the question of Kirinyaga County was not something that happened in camera. It happened in glare of the camera instead. You recall that there was applause and outcries. The hospital was in a pathetic situation. The doctors testified, but this House returned a verdict of ‘not guilty.’"
}