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"id": 1549451,
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"speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale",
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"legal_name": "Bonny Khalwale",
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"content": "FURTHER CONSCIOUS of the need for the Selection Panel to ensure the recruitment process complies with the constitutional principles of regional balance, representation of the youth and overall inclusivity, while ensuring that the interviews are conducted as far as is practicable, within official working days and hours; NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 6(2) of the First Schedule to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act, CAP 7C, the Houses of Parliament RESOLVE to extend the tenure of the Selection Panel for the Recruitment of Persons for appointment as Chairperson and Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission by a period of fourteen (14) days from 28th April, 2025. Mr. Speaker, Sir, by merely reading the Motion, I have explained the reasons behind this particular request. It boils down to the question of time. We have all been witnessing the interviews and they have been nice to watch. Knowing the critical role and centrality of the IEBC, these 14 days would not be too much to bear. I want to appeal to the House that we agree with them on their request and also point out to the House that our sister House has been able to sit on this matter and they have granted this request. It will be useful, although that statement does not sit very well with leadership of Kitui, but the Constitution of Kenya recognizes the fact that if the two Houses do not work in concurrence, then Parliament has not spoken. On this one, Parliament must speak. I, therefore, want to request my colleagues, but as I do so, I would like to sound a warning to the Members of the Selection Panel. The constitutional timelines that were envisaged were not born out of guesswork. People with the necessary competencies did the timing and knew that within 90 days, this was doable. Sometimes, we get worried, but because we have our oversight role in the expenditure of public funds, I want to warn the members of the Selection Panel that if you are extending merely for purposes of having more days from which you can draw an earning, then that is not normal. The national cake is too small for us to waste. I have looked at some of the interviewees and they have discharged themselves very well. I hope that through this process, we are going to get not just the Chairperson, but the best Chairperson that we should have gotten. For Members who find it difficult to extend these days, may I beg you; we have five constituencies in Kenya today that do not have representation. In fact, the Selection Panel needed to rise to that challenge. You all know that our colleague, the late Sen. William Cheptumo, left us and the people of Baringo County would like an opportunity to replace him. Back home in Malava Constituency, we lost our Member of Parliament, Hon. Moses Malulu Injendi. The people of Malava would like to have him replaced, not to mention Banissa Constituency, where my good friend, Hon. Hassan Maalim, was hit in a freak accident; he was hit by a boda boda and lost his life. 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."
}