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{
    "id": 1411570,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1411570/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 318,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kibra, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Peter Orero",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this chance also to contribute on the amendments to the IEBC (Amendment) Bill. As a country, we have come from far since Independence. We must retrace our steps. Long time ago, we did not have commissioners. We were a single-party state but when we changed to a multi-party democracy, people realised that we needed to have a democratic space in this country. From that time, as a country, we thought that we needed to have commissioners with integrity. This Bill has come about because of the last general election, and every other year that we have had an election, we always have issues with how the elections are conducted. We cannot refuse to take cognisance of the fact that the composition of the commissioners came as a result of the NADCO Report. Initially, the ruling Government had decided that the commissioners would be appointed with or without the other side of the Government, but because of the serious conflict that came after the elections, it was only necessary that this country comes together and brings out formalities and modalities of choosing new commissioners. I suggest that the term limit of the commissioners be five years because they undergo a very vigorous process during voting. I think this is the only country in the world that has very many features in our ballot papers during elections. We also have our fingerprints verified during elections. We take this election so seriously that this country puts a lot of resources into ensuring that our elections are free and fair, which has never been so. As parliamentarians, we are here as a product of the elections. Nobody can come to this august House without going through elections. Therefore, it is our singular responsibility to ensure that those who are nominated as commissioners carry themselves with a lot of integrity and patriotism. I am happy that we have allowed Members of the selection panel to be increased from seven to nine. This will ensure that we have broad-based personalities to choose high ranking Kenyans with better credentials, to conduct our elections in the near future. I am also happy that both sides of Parliament; the Majority and Minority have been included as part and parcel of the selection panel. This will ensure that the right personnel are nominated as commissioners so that future general elections are conducted in a free and conducive environment. This reminds me that the nominated commissioners should ensure that our elections are free and fair. Also, they should carry out audits immediately after elections are done, but the time for appeal if the elections are not done properly, has always been very limited. I remember last time we were struggling to avail documentation within one week or so. We need to push the time limit for appeals so that those who want to appeal can have enough time and judgment is done appropriately. Not the way it has been previously done. Again, I am happy that this Bill talks about the conduct of the CEO of IEBC. Before, the CEO had more powers than commissioners. So, we need to look at the powers of the CEO, commissioners and chairperson of IEBC. This will ensure that we do not have conflict of interest. As a country, we need to move from where we are and gain a more democratic space. So, we can carry out elections and review boundaries of our constituencies in a more amicable way. 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"
}