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{
"id": 192657,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/192657/?format=api",
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"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"
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"content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, let me begin with the last issue. The fact that a Question has been asked in this House is not a bar to processes of Government going on. This Act, whether the Question was asked or not, was bound to be made operational, having been passed by this Parliament. We, in fact, regret the delay in operationalizing it, which was contributed to by the events of early this year. It was noticed by the House and was just going on with normal business. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the other issue about budgetary allocation is, yes, we have not allocated money for political parties. This is because, if you look at the Act, parties from the 1st July, 2008 will have 180 days, or six months, within which to bring themselves to comply with the Act. Thereafter, the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) will confirm the parties that will be eligible to enjoy public funds. We intend, in the Supplementary Estimates, to ask for seed funds, so that the proper funding can come in the Budget of 2008/2009. We will do our utmost to ensure that every part of the Act is complied with. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in relation to the issue of what yardstick we are using to give the ECK a clean bill of health, I would plead with hon. Members that we distinguish institutions from individuals. Officers of the ECK, or its employees, can individually commit malpractices. That does not mean that it is the institution. Even the harshest critics of the ECK commend it for the preparation, holding of elections up to and including the constituency level. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is where the actual tallying happens in the presence of agents. They only raise a doubt in the super-tallying in Nairobi. We are waiting to see whether it is an imaginary complaint or a real one. June 24, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1329 Mr. Speaker, Sir, any hon. Member with evidence, including myself, will have to approach the Independent Election Review Committee (IREC). I, myself, intend to approach it to show that it is much a do about nothing. Mr. Speaker, Sir, anybody with a contrary view, are all invited to do that. In their honest belief, the observers may have acted out of ignorance and I do not wish to go beyond that. I want to say that because the matter is alive, let us not prejudice what the Kriegler Team will give. I appreciate that we have very differing views. We have diametrically opposed views in this House on the issue. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with your permission, why do we not leave this issue to the Kriegler Team."
}