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{
    "id": 186992,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/186992/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 211,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ms. Karua",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 166,
        "legal_name": "Martha Wangari Karua",
        "slug": "martha-karua"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. May I take this opportunity to thank all the Members who have given very valuable contributions which we are going to look into with a view to bringing some amendments during the Committee Stage. I want to thank each hon. Member individually and collectively for wholeheartedly supporting this Motion. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the reason that the cut-off date was given as 1963, it is not so that we mask what had happened there before. If you look, it is clearly indicated that the antecedents can also be included, if to shade light on what we are looking at. But we are considering that the conduct we are examining is the conduct of ourselves: How have we treated each other as sovereign nation? We attained our Independence on 12th December, 1963 and that is why that date is of significance. But information predating that period which is relevant shall be admissible. I want to agree with the Members that there is genuine concern in an exercise of this nature on the safety of witnesses who come to give evidence. I want to agree that it is, therefore, necessary to look at safeguards and various other models. It is already provided in the Bill that evidence maybe given either in the open or in camera. It may be necessary to look into that with a view to letting the Commission also decide, after examining the nature of testimony each witness is to give, as to whether they can accord that witness a closed door session to enable them to feel free; to encourage people to own up and also to encourage those who may wish to confess. I also wish to assure Members that amnesty is based on the need for people to come out and tell the truth. Amnesty can only be recommended for those who actually confess and apologise for their wrong doing. Without repeating what hon. Members have said, I have said that we will look carefully not just at our notes but also at the HANSARD so that we do not miss any single thing said by hon. Members. I beg to move with the assurance that we will take into account all those valuable contributions, including the report of the Departmental Committee on Administration of Justice and Legal Affairs. With those few remarks, I beg to move."
}