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{
    "id": 1073316,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1073316/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 159,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Tharaka, DP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. George Gitonga",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13491,
        "legal_name": "George Gitonga Murugara",
        "slug": "george-gitonga-murugara"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Allow me to add my voice to support the Report of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. At the outset, Lady Justice Martha Koome has experience that is unmatched. It all begins with her own career as a young advocate during the clamour for multi-party reforms in the country in the late 1980s and 1990s when we were under the Kenya African National Union (KANU) dictatorship. She stood out and spoke for Kenyans. She has also worked well on Human Rights and the rights of the underprivileged especially in family law. That makes her stand out as a person who is amiable to the Kenyan citizens. She has worked as a Judge of the High Court at the Court of Appeal and has rendered exemplary service. This is a plus for her. However, it appears we are going to approve her and she will be appointed. It is important I point out to the incoming Chief Justice that first and foremost, Lady Justice Martha Koome must guard zealously, jealously and religiously the following without any reservations: (i) The independence of the Judiciary, no doubt whatsoever. We know for sure in Kenya that it is under attack and it must be protected. (ii) She must also guard the supremacy of the Constitution because we have seen several persons trying to throw back on the gains we have made under the 2010 Constitution. She is going to be ranked because Kenyans have ranked former Chief Justice Mutunga, and former Chief Justice Maraga. She is now on the ranking list. We will be looking upon her to ensure that this Constitution is not mutilated, violated or raped. It is a Constitution that must be safeguarded. She will also guard and protect the rule of law in the country; the dignity of the courts. We have seen court orders being disobeyed left, right and center. A democracy that purports to be under the rule of law would ever work with disobedience of court orders. Lady Justice Martha Koome, Kenyans are watching you. They are saying we must be protected. Finally, she must enforce the law to the letter. No question of it in any other way. Just like that little boy outside the court carrying a fish who is naked, justice is nothing but the naked truth. We are looking upon the new Chief Justice to deliver. I support."
}