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{
    "id": 1494761,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1494761/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 478,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Tom Odhiambo Ojienda, SC",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I will take a limited time to contribute to the Elections (Amendment) (No.2) Bill (Senate Bills No.29 of 2024), which seeks to amend various provisions of the Elections Act. I agree with Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale on the timeous nature of this amendment Bill, especially on the need to continually amend the Elections Act for two reasons. Firstly, tallying at the polling stations has been the subject of various election petitions. There is the time question that Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale has dealt with. That is about filling and signing of Forms 34A, B and C; Forms 35 and 37 for governors; Forms 38 for Senators; and Forms 39 for women representatives. All those speak to necessary timeframes. Elections must and should be concluded at polling stations. The issue of nominations has been sticky, with political parties, party leaders and perhaps technocrats having nominations for individuals from outside specific counties and constituencies. I am glad that this Bill seeks to rectify that anomaly. If you are not a registered voter in a particular area, you will not be eligible for nomination. This question of importation must end. I laud that amendment because it seeks to cure that anomaly. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I have litigated many election anomalies. This Bill is timeous because it comes to cure some of the problems that we have had in the process of conducting elections like time delays and possibilities of rigging elections. I must also laud the timeframe for registration of voters and the need for IEBC to continue registering voters. However, we must speak to the need of filling the slots of Commissioners of IEBC available that have not been filled. This is because of the continuous manner in which the IEBC operates and the need for elections every other time. There is need to urgently ensure that the IEBC is fully constituted. I hope that our principals and players in the legislative sector and those responsible will ensure that this process is concluded. This will enable those court cases to be concluded so that we have a fully operational IEBC. I thank you. I support the Bill."
}