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{
    "id": 1479784,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1479784/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 434,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "Despite this, the stakeholders that appeared before us in the NADCO process spoke to us and felt that this office has not been granted the stature of the importance of the work that it does. Therefore, they felt that there was a need to re-modify this office from being just an office created under the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to an independent entity that has independent commissioners who, by statute, are appointed into office through a competitive political process and end up serving the interest of all political parties equally. You know one of the biggest struggles that this country continues to have today is independent institutions; institutions that can withstand even the men who are in power. I use the title men intentionally, because rarely is it women that abuse power. Most of the time it is the male folk that do that. We need credible institutions that can rule even against Presidents, Vice Presidents, Senators, Members of Parliament, Members of the County Assembly and senior civil servants in a dispute and grant orders of favourable judgment or favourable hearing in a pleading against the ordinary citizens. That is the hallmark of a great country where all are equal before the law. This is one such attempt because listening to the members of the public as they appeared before us, there was a yearning and a desire that we need to reform this office so that when they make certain decisions, it does not appear as if there are hands that are pulling the Registrar like a marionette and forcing them to make decisions this way or the other. Therefore, I will go to the specifics of the Bill. Clause 1 is the short title of the Bill. Clause 2 provides for the definition of the commission. I have laid the basis for this commission. Clause 3 provides for the deletion of reference to the Registrar. Remember, we are replacing the simple office of a Registrar with an independent institution. Madam Temporary Speaker, Clause 4, provides for the principal Act by repealing section 14 of the Political Parties Act of 2011. Clause 5, establishes the responsibilities of the Independent Political Parties Regulatory Commission (IPPRC) which include- (a)to register political parties and their office holder. (b)the management of Political Parties’ fund established under this Act; (c)ensuring that publication of audited annual accounts of political parties; Madam Temporary Speaker, party members deserve to know how much was raised in our political parties through contribution from members, deduction from elected officials, donations, and monies that have been sent from the Political Parties’ Fund. If we want to build strong political parties in this country, then being transparent in their financial transaction is part of what this office needs to encourage them to do. I know it is done, but this law is calling for more detail. There is also a duty to maintain a register of political parties and the symbol of political parties. These are basically responsibilities that are present in law and done by the political parties. Clause 8 of the Bill provides for the saving provisions indicating that a person who immediately before the commitment of this Act was a member of the staff or Office of Registrar of Political Parties shall be deemed to be a member of staff to the Commission and shall continue to serve under the same terms and conditions. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only.A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and Audio Services,Senate."
}