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{
    "id": 1426791,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1426791/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 82,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs speak to the House or address us, I would wish to be persuaded and hear why they hold a different view. As the Committee that developed the Bill, we felt that if we tied to five years, which is the term of an election in the country, then there might be a possibility that the term of the CEO will be coming to an end the very year that they are supposed to be conducting the election. Therefore, four years was chosen. There was a feeling that if we keep it to three years, which is the number of years that most parastatal heads are given, it is too short a period. Some of them actually can come in and exit without having conducted any election, especially in the case where their term of office is not renewed. Therefore, I want to be persuaded by JLAC on why they think that we need to vary that provision. Clause 7 of the Bill proposes to amend Section 24 by inserting a new Subsection 24 to provide for the Commission's review of the conduct of the general election. This Clause aims to require the Commission to make necessary changes to make its operation more efficient, effective, transparent, and accountable. Article 87 of our Constitution is quite explicit on what happens after a general election. The IEBC is supposed to publish a report and issue to the country. We have made it mandatory for them to send it to Parliament. Parliament is a principal user of election results. We need to read through and reflect on the report of the IEBC itself after the general election to understand the challenges they went through. Unfortunately, the culture in this country has been such that immediately a matter is dispensed of at the Supreme Court, that is the end of that conversation. If there are to be any other things that are to be mentioned, improvement of efficiency, lessons that are learned, or improvements that need to be made, they are left until a few months before the next general election. We need to learn. We need to do better. I have said this time without a number. I was here in the year 2016 when we tried to amend the IEBC Act months before the election. We know what the results were. We were here again just before the 2022 election, and new provisions were being provided. Let us learn and become better stewards of our country by making those provisions now, three years before the general election, so that those that will be in office will have the opportunity to prepare and set out their procedures in accordance with the law. Therefore, it is extremely diligent of us, as Members of Parliament, and Parliament as a House, to do this work at this time. Clause 7 seven proposes the introduction of Part 3 immediately after the insertion of Section 24(a). This is to provide for the delimitation of boundaries and procedures thereof, a very thorough process. We know Article 88 of our Constitution and its provision on what the IEBC is supposed to do on the delimitation. Already, as it is, we are in violation of our Constitution. The IEBC is supposed to review or do the delimitation of boundaries eight years after the passage of a constitution and not more than--- 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."
}