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{
    "id": 1480938,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1480938/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 171,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13162,
        "legal_name": "Moses Otieno Kajwang'",
        "slug": "moses-otieno-kajwang"
    },
    "content": "that this is one of the outcomes of the National Dialogue Committee which was established at some point in the history of this country to stabilize the political situation. I would like to hail those who participated as rapporteurs, as chairs, as members of the National Dialogue Committee and even those who presented memoranda to that very important committee. We are now starting to see the outcome of the work they did in the form of various amendment laws. We are also seeing that result in the pacification of politics. I hope that we shall find an equilibrium where our politics is no longer highly charged, tribal or partisan. We will find an equilibrium where politicians will be speaking for the good of the country. Madam Temporary Speaker, the amendments to the Election Offences Act are straightforward and they are subject of a negotiated and a long drawn process. However, it is my view that the various pieces of legislation relating to elections in this country need a complete overhaul. In fact, I believe that we need to perhaps redefine our electoral system so that it reflects the unique characteristics of our nation, our history and emerging and contemporary trends. Let me give a few examples of where we need to change our election laws. I have said it before that rigging of elections begins at the point of registration of voters. It is not rocket science and I wonder why we the political class cannot just accept that once you have a national identity card that then should be the instrument that you use on the voters day. The qualification to get an identity card is the same qualification to get a voter's card. In my 10 years in this House and in elective politics, I have always wondered why that matter does not feature very strongly in our conversations around empowering the young people and transforming our electoral system. Madam Temporary Speaker, right now you will find there are certain areas which until the last election, there has been no effort to recruit the newly acquired citizens to become voters and then we will have a stampede a few months to elections. We will have very expensive campaigns a few months to elections to onboard the young people as voters. Madam Temporary Speaker, how I wish we try to come up with a national consensus on various matters. We could come up with a consensus that the National Identification Card (ID) is sufficient for our young people and for our citizens to participate in the voting exercise. Secondly, it would be important for purposes of national security and sovereignty to ring-fence our elections from foreign influence. When I looked at the process of tallying election results at the Bomas of Kenya, I have always asked myself, what is the role and place of diplomats, ambassadors, and high commissioners at the tallying centre? In the last election at the Bomas of Kenya, the American Ambassador was very visible. Her fingerprints were all over the place. The Ambassador of the United Kingdom (UK) was all over the place. When we asked why, we were told that the U.S.A. and the UK governments were providing technical support to the electoral system and the electoral process. 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."
}