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{
    "id": 1193128,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1193128/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 254,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise to join the rest of my colleagues in supporting this important Motion. The history as to how the Senate got the mandate of jointly vetting the IG with the National Assembly (NA) is quite impressive. It took a court action. Previously, in the appointment of the first IG, as is the practice in the bicameral Parliament, the Senate was largely ignored. Thanks to the vigilante members of society who pointed out to the country that the correct wording in the Constitution in Article 243 is that the IG shall be approved by Parliament, and Parliament means both Houses. I congratulate the Committee led by Sen. Cheptumo together with colleagues from our sister House, who did a wonderful job. I did not get a chance to watch or listen to Eng. Japheth Koome being interviewed because I was away. However, from the comments from Kenyans on twitter and Facebook, Eng. Koome appeared to have inspired the confidence of Kenyans, that we finally have an IG who will bring an efficient and professional police service. That is something Kenyans have wanted so badly. Previously, we have done this exercise before as a House. Four years ago, we interviewed the outgoing IG. I wish him a quick recovery because I have heard he is recovering after a bout of illness. I wish him well. Unfortunately, if you go through my phone, I rarely send bad messages to people. I consider myself a gentleman, which is not a good assessment of oneself. However, the former IG let us down on many occasions particularly this House. On many occasions, this House found itself on the crosshairs of his servicemen and women. We tried reaching and reminding him that this is the House that vetted him and granted him the powers. I told him, ‘You cannot be arresting Senators to stop them from transacting business because the Government is thinking in a particular way.’ In further degradation of the blood lines that existed in the previous administration between the police and political youth wingers where MPs and ordinary citizens perceived to be supporting a given political divide, were unnecessarily harassed by the police officers. I kept reminding him, texting him messages of my disappointment in him. I told him I withdrew my vote of approval only that it was no longer possible to undo the vote of approval. My hope is that we shall never get here with Eng. Japheth Koome. We do not want favours from him. I speak for the Majority side that we do not need him to help us do our political work. We want a professional police service that will ensure the right of all citizens, whether they support or oppose the Government, are observed. Let us have a dignified police service that a child can grow up wanting to be a police officer because of how they carry out their duties. That is the simple desire of all Kenyans. Eng. Koome is not the first IG to go on record with regards to how he intends to slay the ghost of corruption in the National Police Service (NPS). I like the confidence"
}