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{
    "id": 1406369,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406369/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 295,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sirisia, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Koyi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2792,
        "legal_name": "John Waluke Koyi",
        "slug": "john-waluke-koyi"
    },
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the chance to contribute to this very important Bill. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to support the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 10 of 2024). This amendment Bill is going to cure many problems surrounding the elections. We have been having problems ever after and sometimes before elections. Mostly, it has been after the elections. In this country, people have fought, others have died, and properties have been destroyed many times after elections. For that reason, I thank the Committee that came up with these amendments. Sometimes, Kenyans, and mostly women, do not vote out of fear. In some areas, they are threatened, so they do not go out during that time for fear of being beaten. This Bill will greatly help ensure that the electoral laws are followed. That committee will include people of goodwill, good thoughts, and integrity. Therefore, as a House, we need to pass the Bill. We also need to pass these amendments, as they have been brought to the Floor of the House, so that we can save this country from many problems. There are good changes proposed for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. They have changed and increased the number from seven to nine commissioners who are people of integrity. The time of the commissioners in office should remain five years renewable. There are many Kenyans, including our sons, looking for jobs and who want to become commissioners, just like many others. We cannot say that we give them six or nine years as other Hon. Members are proposing. Five years is enough for a commissioner to serve, and if they have done a good job, it can be renewed. Therefore, the term of the CEO should also be five years. The CEO cannot hold office like a civil servant until they retire. Hon. Temporary Speaker, still on the issue of commissioners, in the changes of this committee, they have also appointed an accountant. This is because the problem in this country has been the counting of votes after elections. An accountant will manage this because it is his line of duty to make sure that the vote counting process is quick and will not cause problems in the country as it has before. Kenyans always see Members of Parliament because they elected us to represent them. What we pass here will be representative of the people of Kenya. They look up to us as their representatives to pass a good Bill that can make the country move forward. With this amendment, we can assure Kenyans that IEBC is going to be the good commission that Kenyans have wanted it to be. With those few remarks, I support the Bill. Thank you."
}