Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1209641,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1209641/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 111,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13599,
        "legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
        "slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. From the onset, I hold a very different view on the matter that is before the House this morning. I have two specific problems with the Bill as presented before us, in Sub-Article 2(b) and (c). When you determine who the stakeholders in any institution are, a very cursory research of what the words ‘stakeholder’ means is that, it is a party that has an interest in an institution and can either affect or be affected by the business of that institution. There are many stakeholders in the political process. Every single citizen has an interest in the operations of the IEBC and in the elections and politics of this country. However, you must identify the primary and secondary stakeholders. I urge this House that when it comes to matters IEBC the primary stakeholders are the political actors, especially those represented through their various political parties. Allow me to give an example. There were certain controversies at the onset of Christianity that needed to be settled. For example, the divinity of Christ was in question; whether Christ is divine or he is to be made and the criteria to be used in settling the gospels; which books were going to go into what we know today as the Bible. They convened the Council of Nicaea which was fully composed of bishops and leaders in the Christian faith to settle these controversies. Let me give another example. The clubs that play the league because those are the primary stakeholders determine the leadership of the Federation of Kenyan Football (FKF). The leadership of Rugby Kenya is decided or selected by the rugby teams that are part of the league. Mr. Speaker, Sir, what I am trying to say is that I will be very hesitant to limit the number of slots that are allocated to the political players in this Bill. The Senate Majority Leader raised concern about the question of LSK. Many of these institutions interact with the law in their daily operations. My colleagues and I who served in the Special Committee that considered the proposed impeachment of Governor Kawira Mwangaza will bear me witness that they saw the benefit of having at least one lawyer in that Committee. We bring some value, especially when the team and the institution interact with the law. Mr. Speaker, Sir, my biggest problem with this Bill is with the Public Service Commission (PSC). Whose interest does the PSC represent? Looking at the composition of the PSC, it is composed of a chairperson, vice-chairperson and seven other members who are appointed by the President with the approval of the National Assembly. If there is a partisan organization that can only serve to represent the interest of one side of the political divide, it is the PSC. I would be more inclined to return one slot to the Parliamentary Service Commission so that both the Majority and Minority sides get slots."
}