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{
    "id": 1480977,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1480977/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 210,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mungatana, MGH",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, we need to put this provision somewhere, that a trial run must be done, so that political parties and all those who intend to run as independents can have a look. The problem in this country has been the integrity of the system of electioneering. I have had the fortune of observing elections in other countries on behalf of the Pan-African Parliament, (PAP) which this Senate graciously sent me to. I have seen equivalent of IEBC officials who register people prior to the elections. They see the whole system. There is no hiding the system. Days before the elections, members of political parties and officials are taken through the system again. They are told if they had issues in the previous trial run, they should now see what has been improved, so that they can agree with them when they declare these results as a reflection of the will of the people. We have to get a system that has all the integrity requirements and the goodwill of political parties together with those who intend to run for elections as independents. On the question of evaluation of elections, I generally support this, but we must look at the cost element. We must not make elections so expensive to conduct, and even more so during evaluation after electioneering process. For the sake of predictability, we need the firms that will be evaluating to be known in advance and be put on the list as service providers to that effect and that there is some indication in terms of the cost. This is because the cost of elections in Kenya has been so expensive. Even right now, when we fund IEBC, we are always told there are debts to pay. To date, there are suppliers who have not been paid for services rendered. We need to be careful about exaggerating the cost of elections to include evaluation by putting it in the law, without looking at the costing. IEBC should be directed through law or regulations, that those who will provide this service must be known in time together with the kind of quotation they will bring, so that we are happy to spend that money at a reasonable cost. Madam Temporary Speaker, I am happy about the requirement in this law that says that three months before the election, we must have all the polling stations gazetted. This is a good one. In some instances, in counties as huge as Tana River, the latitude to open polling stations has been abused in the electioneering process. This is because some polling stations are introduced very near to the election. When you are campaigning and the candidates are on the campaign trail, you are told there is this other new polling station that has been gazetted. As a candidate, you have not planned for those polling stations and the distances are so huge. It makes a lot of sense to state that three months before the general election, all the polling stations must be gazetted. We must know them, so that those who are intent on campaigning for various positions can be clear. We have to create some predictability around electioneering. I am very happy about that proposed amendment. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there has been some problems and I am very glad that Clause 22 has captured this challenge. People have gone to court to say that electronically transmitted results are not true. They have created uncertainties around the country especially when it comes to presidential elections. It is very clear through this law that the verified and declared results in every polling station shall prevail. Those 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."
}