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{
    "id": 1426906,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1426906/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 197,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mandago",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13577,
        "legal_name": "Kiplagat Jackson Mandago",
        "slug": "kiplagat-jackson-mandago"
    },
    "content": "We know how Parliament operates, that period is too short to allow for conversations along the report that has been submitted. The issue of delimitation of boundaries is a very emotive issue that accompanies the sharing of resources. It is an issue that determines how a regional area will be administered. There is need to provide sufficient time for Parliament to have a conversation so that the report can be adopted. Otherwise, there could be a situation where the tabling, adoption and debating of the report is not prioritized and seven days lapses then the electoral body’s decisions and recommendations take precedence over what the representatives of the people would have conversed and agreed upon. I have issues with the composition that has been provided. On the First Schedule, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Inter-religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) have been given the opportunity to nominate. There has been a growing trend in this country that the only professional body that seems to be getting representation in almost all the independent commissions and all other agencies, where we need representation other than what Parliament has determined, is from the LSK and IRCK. Madam Temporary Speaker, we are talking about electoral management in this country, the only other cadre of public servants who have managed elections are the teachers. If we are to go back to the last general election and look at the number of presiding officers, deputy presiding officers and clerical officers, you will be surprised that 90 per cent of the human resource required to manage our elections are teachers. I am therefore surprised to see these two professional bodies being given the opportunity to do that and teachers not being given representation while they form the bulk and the stake of the management of our elections. The hon. Senators here who went for elections know that a majority of their agents and even their coordinators were teachers. I, therefore, propose that when the time comes, we need to look into this composition of professional bodies, so that it is not only two professional bodies in this country that are left to be permanent members of all these independent commissions. Madam Temporary Speaker, where there is a need, I will propose that there be rotation in the various professional bodies that we have in this country so that all are given the opportunity to contribute to their country. Madam Temporary Speaker, in this matter of composition also is the issue of qualification and experience. It would be extremely important and necessary to ensure that the qualification and experience are clearly defined so that even as the various professional bodies and independent bodies will nominate through a competitive process their representation into the electoral body, we should have a bare minimum qualification and experience required. Since, this is a very crucial exercise for the country, we would like it to be handled in the most professional manner and in a manner that will allow this country to make progress. 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."
}