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"speaker_name": "Mr. M. Kilonzo",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this landmark Bill. It is in order that I congratulate the Attorney- General and the Government in general for coming up with this kind of a Bill. We, as a country, have suffered a great deal because the attitude towards law enforcement has been that if five criminals commit an offence, then we must convict the five of them. In other countries and, indeed, in developed jurisdictions, it is far better that we score 75 per cent of law enforcement and make sure that the 75 per cent go to jail than aim at targeting 100 per cent and then we lose the entire case. We have had situations in this country where it is clear that among those who are accused, there are people who would easily and happily give evidence against those who were the key offenders. However, they cannot do so because they are intimidated, threatened and, above all, even when they go to police stations to give evidence, they are harassed, treated like suspects and not accorded any opportunity to tell their country what they know. Therefore, I welcome this Bill. On behalf of the Opposition, I would urge the Government to consult far and wide when they want to come up with a Bill like this. July 5, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1883 Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is not much that we need to say about this Bill. In fact, my good learned friend, Mr. Wetangula, and Prof. Maathai, have put it very clearly. I sincerely do not even want to go into the issues of things like drug trafficking, terrorism and cases such as when a lot of our people died in the bombing in 1998. On the bombing that took place in the North Coast, for example, what the police ended up doing was to arrest everybody, take them to court and prosecute them. It is time to enact this kind of Bill so that those who are in the periphery or even central, can offer State evidence as we call it in other jurisdictions. We will secure convictions and improve our law enforcement. In other countries, when a person like Mr. Wetangula wants to become full Minister, what he normally does is to show the courage of seeking out criminals and getting them convicted. What is the point of him saying that he is a good lawyer if he cannot get convictions? What is the point of saying Mr. Ringera is a good Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority (KACA) and every time, he comes up with cases, suspects are acquitted in all manner of excuses because of lack of enough investigations? Once we open this window; and Ms. Karua knows that in seeking to enforce a particular law, a few people can be used as witnesses, that protects them and their families and then we will be able to secure the proper administration of justice as we want. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not want to say much about this Bill because I wholly support it. I have made my views known to the Attorney-General and to the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs. Now I am telling my learned friend, Mr. Wetangula, who is looking at me, that I support this Bill. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to support."
}