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{
    "id": 1207843,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1207843/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 2875,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1835,
        "legal_name": "Anthony Kimani Ichung'Wah",
        "slug": "anthony-kimani-ichungwah"
    },
    "content": "This Bill is very important. I beg Members to be available this afternoon to discuss it. As you are aware, the President has already exercised powers that are bestowed on him by the IEBC Act. Members are aware that the terms of three commissioners come to an end at the end of January. The other four commissioners are subject to a petition that was already in the hands of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. Without pre-empting any debate, I saw the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs has already tabled the Report on the petitions touching on the four commissioners. Therefore, there is an imminent danger that the country runs the risk of not having a Commission. That is why it is very important that we expedite this IEBC Bill before we proceed on recess to allow the Senate time to also consider it because it is a Bill that touches on counties. Election of members of county assemblies (MCAs), Senators, governors, Members of Parliament and the President are all presided over by the IEBC. There are by-elections due as early as next week. I do not know if there are some scheduled for January. Anything could happen to occasion by-elections. Therefore, the country cannot operate without a Commission. With the terms of three commissioners coming to an end and the fate of the other four commissioners lying in the hands of this Assembly, should anything adverse be decided, we run the risk of not having a Commission. That is why I beg Members to be available this afternoon to consider the Bill, even as we apprise you on other very important issues. There is also the issue of Principal Secretaries. Members are aware that Principal Secretaries are the accounting officers in ministries. Many issues that affect our people in the constituencies are addressed through ministries, be it education or roads. Without substantive holders of those offices, the outgoing Principal Secretaries may not be very enthusiastic about dealing with issues that we take to their offices knowing that they are on their way out. It is equally important that before we proceed on recess, we approve all Principal Secretaries to ensure that our ministries have accounting officers. When we patronise those offices, we will get help for our constituents because we will have Government officers who can attend to their issues. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg for your indulgence that you direct that we consider these two matters in the afternoon. I know that the IEBC and other electoral matters are quite emotive, but as responsible leaders in the country, we must ensure that all our institutions, from the IEBC to other constitutional commissions, are well-resourced and well-quorate. I must commend committees that have been working to ensure that we achieve this objective. I am aware that the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning is working on the nominees appointed to the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA). I commend the entire leadership, even the Minority side, because they worked very hard over the weekend to ensure that the CRA also quorate. Hon. Deputy Speaker, with your indulgence, I beg that this business be considered in the afternoon."
}