Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1480943,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1480943/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 176,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Joe Nyutu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I also rise to make my contribution to this Elections Offences (Amendment) (No.2) Bill (Senate Bills No.28 of 2024). We have a responsibility as Members of this House to identify the problems that our people have and to make the necessary legislation. In this country, most of the problems that we have are related to elections. Every time we are going for elections, everybody gets scared of what is going to happen during and after the elections. This is because we do not believe in our systems, especially the electoral system. That is why I think it is very important that we come up with ideas that can help improve on this particular situation. This Bill could not have come at a better time. We know that in our history, the very many differences that we have had, have come either just before the elections or after the elections. Why is this so? It is because many people do not trust the system. Looking at this particular Bill and noting that under the Memorandum on Objects and Reasons as given by the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader; that we will create offences for members and staff of the commission who unreasonably delay in declaring results or knowingly alter declared election results. I think the first step towards solving the very many problems that we have with our electoral system is making it a responsibility of the individual officer of IEBC. When we see the IEBC as an institution for offences committed by members or staff of the IEBC, then it does not become incumbent upon a member when they are executing their duties to take the necessary or the due diligence and care. That is why when we make it mandatory through this Bill, that whoever commits an electoral offence in the execution of their duties as officers or staff of IEBC will face the music, then I believe we shall be beginning to get somewhere. This delay in declaring election results is what caused us the problems that we had in 2007. Anybody that watched the events that were happening at the KICC could tell that the delay in announcing the results, especially from the then Juja Constituency and Tharaka Nithi Constituency led to the build-up of the tension that was there in the country, leading to post-election violence of 2007. That is why this Bill needs to be supported by anyone who wishes Kenya well. 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."
}