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{
    "id": 1480899,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1480899/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 132,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "when they queued up on the 27th August, 2010 and bequeathed themselves the new Constitution. Therefore, that is part of the amendment. The provision set out under Clause 2 is crucial because it helps in upholding the credibility of our electoral processes by specifying that only designated polling stations may be used to conduct or hold an election and will not only help prevent potential manipulation or irregularities, but will also fortify democratic principles of free and fair elections, ultimately fostering public trust in the electoral systems. Ultimately, if you also tamper with election outcome that is likely to undermine the will of the people and erode the legitimacy of democratically elected leaders, then there is an imposition of the offence, so that we ensure that such electoral officials are punished and we also ensure that people trust that the people that are in office were legitimately elected. Madam Temporary Speaker, this is just a clean-up. Like I had told you, you remember, this was still at the time where there were disputes about how elections were carried out, who made a declaration here or there and whether it was rightfully done or not. I believe that this is an extremely important piece of legislation, which I want colleagues Senators to support, so that we can conclude on this conversation and ensure that we tighten the noose in terms of belief in our electoral processes. I wish to state that the integrity of the electoral process is fundamental to the proper functioning of a democratic society. I urge Senators to support this Bill and make any further additions. However, remember there is a cardinal rule that we agreed on, on how we are going to treat these so-called National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) Bills. Therefore, even by amendments, they have to be negotiated in a bipartisan way. You need the nod of yours truly, Sen. Madzayo and the team that he leads to concur, because there is a long rigorous way which we arrived at these Bills. Sen. Omogeni knows that we worked long and hard, deep into the night sometimes, to agree on some of these provisions. Nonetheless, as a legislature, we have the full authority and the final say in terms of any piece of legislation that takes the full force of law. We are the final body. Therefore, it is not to gag Members in any way, but just to remind them of a cardinal principle that a good turn deserves another, and when you reach an agreement, it is always important to honour it. Madam Temporary Speaker, with those many remarks, I beg to move and request my colleague who served with me in the NADCO team, the Senator for Nyamira, Sen. Omogeni, Senior Counsel, to second. I thank you."
}