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"speaker_name": "Mr. Kenyatta",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to second the Political Parties Bill, as introduced and moved by the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs. This Bill is long over due. As we are all aware, Kenya returned to multi-party democracy in 1992, with the removal of Section 2A of the Constitution. Since then, we have yet to come up with a clearly defined law on how political parties relate within each other, with one another and, ultimately, with the nation as a whole. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as a result of having no clear law, there has also been a lot of confusion in the way we have operated in this House. It has never been clear what rules bind or govern us. One of the main reasons for the clamour for a return to multi-party democracy was lack of internal democracy within the, then, political party, KANU. However, when we eventually opened up, and multi-party became a fact, we did not really look into how to regulate parties and find a way of how to relate to each other. I say that because what ended up happening was a sudden explosion of political parties. There was the registration of a huge number of political parties. That was largely a gimmick by the then State to create further division and confusion. A tradition of parties belonging to individuals as opposed to members also started developing. People begun to seek more outlets. So, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I stand to second this Bill which I believe can only enhance and entrench democracy in our country and create greater stability within the political body of our nation. There are a number of issues that some of us have seen. They have been taken into account in this Bill. First and foremost, there is the issue of registration of parties and the role of the Registrar of Societies in overseeing matters pertaining to political parties. You are aware that, over the last few years, we, in KANU, have been having ongoing clashes with the Registrar of Societies with regard to the manner in which they have acted and operated in matters regarding our own political party. Therefore, when we say that we want the Registrar of Societies to be an independent body under the umbrella of the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK), I believe that is a positive move. But a move can only be positive so long as we guarantee the independence of the Registrar of Societies, even within that body. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do hope that when it comes to the Committee Stage, we will look into the issue of how that Registrar will be appointed. We should not leave it again without a clear definition. It is, indeed, my hope that just as we vet those appointed to the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC), the names of those who will be appointed, will also be vetted by this very House. I believe that is one sure way of ensuring that we have a Registrar who can truly be independent and able, in a bipartisan way, to arbitrate over all political parties. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, another issue that has been taken into account is the issue of creating a sense of discipline within political parties. Once again, the Ninth Parliament, in particular, will go down in the records of history as being the most confused Parliament since Independence. I say so, because the Chair itself, when asked to rule on this particular issue of Floor crossing, who sits where and who belongs where, you admitted before this House that what you were observing was a destruction of political parties and a return to a mass party situation. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is, indeed, about time we were clear as to how we 800 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 19, 2007 relate to one another as political entities. It is about time that Members of Parliament became loyal to the electorate on the platform on which they were elected. It is also, indeed, about time that Members of Parliament or councils who choose to change their platform were made to account, first and foremost, to the electorate who elected them on a different political platform."
}