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{
    "id": 1411587,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1411587/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 335,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Gichugu, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Gichimu Githinji",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Without belabouring the importance of this Bill, it comes at a time when this country finds itself in a situation where there are no commissioners in the IEBC. This has really affected several parts of this country. Some people have gone unrepresented for a long period of time. We have wards which require elections. Banissa Constituency lost its Member of Parliament, Hon. Kulow. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Those citizens require representation, which can only be done through a by-election, which has to be conducted by the IEBC. This Bill is very important and timely, and ought to be given the priority it deserves. I also thank Members for supporting the clauses that seek to delete unconstitutional sections in the IEBC Act. There was overwhelming support for the inclusion of additional qualifications for commissioners. They should have ICT and accounting skills. Information and Communication Technology is very central when it comes to tallying votes and even storage of election data. The increase in the number of members of the selection panel from seven to nine has also received a lot of support from the Members. All stakeholders and interest groups can also be included so that all parties will feel that the election process, which starts with the recruitment of the commissioners, is free and fair. This is done squarely for the interest of Kenyans who expect that elections are free, fair, credible, and verifiable. Of importance is the definition of a parliamentary party in the Bill. It will now be in tandem with the definition in the Political Parties Act and also with the Standing Orders of this House. It will now be easy for political parties to share the spoils when it comes to the Political Parties Fund without much litigation or misunderstanding. Hon. Temporary Speaker, let me take this opportunity to thank all the Members who have supported this Bill. It has received overwhelming support from the entire House. Although Members had reservations on specific clauses, those reservations were in the spirit of the NADCO Report. They have not deviated in any way. It is only that the legal procedure of law- making must be followed, and Members also have the leeway and freedom to state their reservations on the Bill and possibly have them accommodated during the Committee of the whole House. I do not want to repeat what Members have already said. This is a very important piece of legislation. I urge the House Business Committee to prioritise consideration of this Bill so that we can finalise it before the forthcoming long recess. The Bill can be dispensed with by Parliament before it moves to the next level. The NADCO considered all these matters after receiving many recommendations. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am happy because one of the issues that had been raised by some fronts on cost of living is not part of this Bill. It can only be addressed through other interventions like what is being done by the Government. There are some interventions like fertiliser subsidies which support farmers, so that we can produce enough food to feed our people. Matters of the economy can only be achieved through policy interventions by the Government. We applaud and support our President, His Excellency William Ruto, for coming up with some hard and unpopular decisions that have gone a long way to stabilise the economy of this country, which is on the right trajectory. These are the issues that were raised but the Government is addressing them. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to reply. Thank you."
}