Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 1522121,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522121/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 127,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, for this opportunity to also add my voice to this Report of the Mediation Committee of the Conflict of Interest Bill. This is an interesting Bill because it has passed both Houses of Parliament and ended up in the Mediation Committee after a protracted battle. The first battle was between Members and the second, and most importantly, was between this House and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). You will recall that it was on the basis of this law, that EACC issued a communique, trying to, at the time – I still hold the view, to this day, that that was a disparage on this House, founded on a misunderstanding of what was the reasoning behind the proposed deletions and amendments that our Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee had proposed. After that, they duly apologised, appeared, and gave their proposal. As a House, we pass laws in the best interest of a country. We may not have an entirely complete view of every particular item that comes before this House, but I know for a fact that every time this House sits down to legislate, we do it in the best interest of the country. That is why we are a lawmaking House. The Conflict of Interest Bill is no exception. At the time, EACC told us that perhaps this is the only missing piece of the puzzle for them to vanquish the dragon of corruption in this country. I was excited about that because I said then we must give it to them because corruption destroys nations. Nations rise and fall on account of their ability to fight corruption. There is no debate about where Kenya would have been today if it were not for the corrupt practices that are deeply rooted and ingrained in the culture and societal fabric of the Kenyan people. Until the day we finally slay this dragon, we shall continue to be an average country punching way below its weight on account of the fact that ours is a rigged system. When we had the invasion in Parliament, and we passed that Motion that broke ranks and Members spoke as one House, part of the recommendations that we spoke to on that particular day was the need to sit with EACC and listen to them on their proposal on what is it that holds them back from making Kenya a corrupt free country. 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."
}