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{
    "id": 1426678,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1426678/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 380,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheptumo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13591,
        "legal_name": "Cheptumo William Kipkiror",
        "slug": "cheptumo-william-kipkiror"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as we all know, the IEBC is an important institution in the management of our elections. In every election, there have been issues about commissioners of the IEBC, management of elections and so on and so forth. Any attempt to reform and improve the efficiency of the IEBC is welcome. I think that is the reason the NADCO picked up this issue. It is our moment as a country and as a House to do the right thing, so that going forward, we will not be lamenting every election year that we lost elections because of the composition of the commissioners or election laws and blame everything that is happening. These proposed amendments to the Act are important because they will strengthen operations of the IEBC and ensure that we have efficient elections because of better laws. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the objectives of this Bill are important. Allow me to refer to that part on objects of the Bill. This Bill seeks to enhance transparency which is important because it will remove doubts about governance of our institutions and elections. The Bill also seeks to enhance efficiency and accountability in electoral process. It also seeks to make the commission’s appointment process more inclusive and transparent, while ensuring continuity and stability within its administrative structure. This law will address not only the issue of commissioners but also the administrative structure of the commission. In my submission, I want to address only two areas of this Bill. The first one is the issue of the Selection Panel. I participated in this law when I was the chairman of the Committee on Justice Legal and Human Rights Committee (JLARC) in the National Assembly. If you read the First Schedule of the current Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Act, the membership of the selection panel according to the law that we passed that time in the National Assembly, the membership is, four persons being two men and two women nominated by the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC). Those are four. Then, one person nominated by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB). One person nominated by the National Council of Judges of Kenya (NCCK). One person nominated by the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM). One person nominated by the Evangelical Alliance (EA) and finally, one person nominated by the Hindu Council (HC). If you look at the composition of that panel, it is almost 90 per cent of religious groups. The current change is of the institutions to nominate the selection panel. We see in Clause 9 of the Bill, that I want to deal with now, that the membership of the selection panel, shall be appointed by a number of institutions, which is a complete departure from the previous religious organizations. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}