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{
    "id": 1472827,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1472827/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 188,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Rarieda, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Otiende Amollo",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "operate within the law. Some things must be said. As the Inspector-General of the Police, you must have the humility that Nelson Mandela had when he was the President. When Nelson Mandela was confronted with a court order that was adverse to the government and he was asked to defy it, he said that he did not agree with the court, but in the interest of the country, he would comply with those court orders. That is what an Inspector-General must do. As the foremost enforcer of the law, you must be seen to respect the law. If you do not, then those to whom you enforce the law will not respect the law. I fault the Acting Inspector-General for showing impunity. When the courts require you to appear before them, all you need to do is to appear before them. You do not need to defy court orders and then issue a press conference explaining the functional and operational independence of the police service. There is no independence from the authority of the courts. There is no independence from the authority of Parliament. Your independence is within what is defined. When you are summoned by Parliament, you must come. When you are summoned by the courts, you must come. That kind of impunity is unacceptable. Indeed, the Acting Inspector-General should know that he is walking on thin ice. First of all, strictly speaking, there is no provision to appoint an Acting Inspector-General. I dare the Committee to re-consider this matter. Section 16 of the National Police Service Act allows the President to appoint an acting Inspector-General in the event of a temporary absence of the Inspector-General, which means that there must be a substantive Inspector-General who is absent. Where there is no Inspector-General, you cannot appoint someone in an acting capacity. So, when by the generosity of happenstance, you have been appointed as an acting Inspector- General, you cannot then demonstrate such absolute impunity. You should be humble because that happenstance can be withdrawn any time. I support this appointment. As Mr. Kanja comes in as the Inspector-General, let him demonstrate why we changed from a police force to a police service. Let him demonstrate the ability and confidence of what President Ruto promised that there will be no unexplained disappearances. Let us have an era where we do not have that kind of thing. Let us have an era where everybody respects the law, everybody is below the law, and everyone is held accountable. I support the Motion."
}