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{
    "id": 236616,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/236616/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 293,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Muturi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 215,
        "legal_name": "Justin Bedan Njoka Muturi",
        "slug": "justin-muturi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this November 2, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3395 opportunity to say a few things on this Motion. I am surprised, listening to some of the Members who I know took such an active part in the debate that led to the enactment of the Act that created this Commission, and more particularly, the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs. But, be that as it may, we know things change and at that time, people were on different sides of the House. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on a more serious note, the Act clearly says: \"Minister means the Attorney-General and Ministry shall be construed accordingly.\" So, even as much as we may want to say that through some executive fiat, administrative arrangements could have been made from within Government, the Minister referred to in the Act, to whom the Commission should be reporting to is the Attorney-General, and not the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs. So, when I saw recently the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs engage in some altercations with the Commissioners, I really got surprised. I think it is important that we operate within the law. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have heard Members say here that the President will appoint Commissioners of the Electoral Commission of Kenya in accordance with the Constitution. This Constitution is for this country; it is for us. The practice the world over in the appointment of Commissioners of Electoral Commission is that the Executive must consult all shades of political opinion that are represented. We will not allow any deviation from that fact, whether the Constitution says this or the other. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am giving this very free gratuitous advice to the Government. It will be the height of hypocrisy that commissioners to the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) or any other Commission could be appointed without due regard to such other shades of opinions as exists in this country. In fact, it would be a recipe to chaos. What we are hearing today is a prelude. We are being forewarned that: \"Actually, people are about to be appointed without consulting the rest of you. The rest of you can go and hang or cry!\" I think that is the message Kenyans are being given out there. It is only fair that now I warn Kenyans to be on the look out because we are about to witness one of the most atrocious things being done to them."
}