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"id": 201136,
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"speaker_name": "Ms. Karua",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs",
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"legal_name": "Martha Wangari Karua",
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"content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I beg to oppose the amendment by the Committee. I am saying that we should give time and consideration to the proposals by the President. Let us not go back and forth. The reason this Act was difficult to assent to is, it was taking away the powers of KACC to fight corruption. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, when the words, \"or expedient\" are removed as suggested, it means something may not be necessary, but it could be expedient. It may shorten the time within which the investigations are concluded. It may save extent and money. If we play around with the language, we are serving to weaken the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Law. October 4, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 4357 Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I would say the same in restricting the investigations or the powers that we are trying to confer on them to offences relating to corruption and economic crimes. The Attorney-General has made that reference. The Act is new, it is not in the previous law. Just the same way it has now been deleted, is the way a lawyer will argue. That, because the reference is not there, they cannot assume those powers. I am saying that let us give consideration and support the recommendations by the President. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, when it comes to part \"c\", why then are we saying that the KACC offices should be deemed to be a police station or police office? For purposes of recording a statement, they do not have to take you from their offices to the police station. They should do their work. When we created the KACC as a specialised investigation agency, this House knew it was creating a parallel body, but only to investigate offences related to economic crimes and corruption. I do not know why we are developing cold feet. I do not know why we want a reversal. It is a specialised body doing investigation just like the police. That is why there is need to give them that latitude, so that they are able to do their statements and work properly. This does not mean that we are encouraging them to even build cells to detain people. However, they need equal powers to do the things they are supposed to do. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I want to remind the House that, even in the case of City Council or local authority, police officers, labour officers and a host of others, including the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers, we give them police powers to enable them do their work. This is not something that is strange. The resistance to this clause is simply aimed at weakening the KACC. This was the same move that saw the deletion of the sections. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, as to the allegation that the President agreed with the Committee, it is only on prosecutorial powers, but not on weakening of the KACC. I beg to oppose the amendment by the Committee and support the proposals by the President."
}