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{
    "id": 1122460,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1122460/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 277,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dagoretti South, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Kiarie",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13322,
        "legal_name": "John Kiarie Waweru",
        "slug": "john-kiarie-waweru"
    },
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. Yes, I am youthful but by any definition, I am not a youth. The United Nations (UN) defines a youth as anyone up to the age of 24 while our Constitution defines youth as anyone less than 40 years. I will own the term ‘youthful MP’ but I am not a youth by definition of the law. I stand to support this Bill by the Committee and even before I get into its flesh, I would like to commend it. It is important for us to recognise the work done by hardworking committees. The Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) is one of them. I had an opportunity to appear before this Committee under the able leadership of Hon. Jeremiah Kioni, leading very esteemed and ranking Members of this House like Hon. Kaluma, Hon. T.J. Kajwang’ and others. This is one of the Committees that deserve mention and commendation in the 12th Parliament for the work they have done in this Session. This Bill is not only timely but also urgent. It was urgent many years ago. Bringing together the provisions of Article 59 of the constitutional commissions under one roof is important business. Creation of KNHREC is a timely idea. As we have been told, there are situations where Kenyans have been aggrieved. Even one homogeneous group of Kenyans had to knock on different doors in buildings and organisations seeking restitution and justice while they could get the same under one roof. I support this idea on account that we should handle our rights issues from one commission. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the proliferation of commissions in this country is not in the interest of anyone. It is not in the interest of the marginalised groups in our communities. Women, youth, marginalised communities and persons with disabilities do not benefit when we proliferate commissions. If we could get one super commission as has been proposed under the KNHREC, then we will be walking the path the new Constitution envisioned. There could be a few issues that can be raised on gender matters but we have to remind ourselves that when, as a country, we were crafting the Constitution in 2010, we were all in agreement that there are some issues that will be transitional and will have a sunset clause. So, we have to accept that 10 years after the promulgation of the Constitution, it is time to start retiring some of the issues that had sunset clauses with timelines attached to them and start consolidating our institutions so that we can have a leaner and more effective Government. The effort to bring equality issues under one roof is the second reason why I support this Bill. As the new Commission takes office, they have their work cut out for them. This is a Commission that will have to fight for its independence and have to elbow for their space in this country. They require their independence as has been envisioned by the crafters of the Constitution because some of the violators of human rights are very powerful people, very powerful institutions The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}