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{
    "id": 27779,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/27779/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 313,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Prof. Olweny",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Education",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 122,
        "legal_name": "Patrick Ayiecho Olweny",
        "slug": "patrick-olweny"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. This is a very good Bill which will help us in reforming the electoral process in this country. The Bill talks of continuous registration of voters, which is also reflected in the Constitution. I do not know whether we shall implement that part to ensure that the registration of voters is continuous. I am dreaming of a day when the identity card number will be the same with the voter registration number except for the addition of the constituency or the polling station code. If we do that, then one can use his voter registration card as an identity card because it will have the same number, apart from a few additions. Those who will be charged with the responsibility of implementing this Bill could liaise with the Ministry of Immigration and Registration of Persons, so that those numbers are tallied and we will have made an achievement. The Bill tries to address the malpractices and the violations that Kenyans engage in during the electioneering period. I do not know whether this Bill could have helped us if the Minister could have brought in something to do with how much money a candidate should spend during the electioneering period. You find that in some constituencies, candidates spend almost Kshs100 million while in others candidates spend just about Kshs2 million or Kshs5 million. What makes this difference? Why can we not criminalize unnecessarily exorbitant spending during the campaigns? I believe that this is simply because of bribing the voters. Why should you buy voters if you are a credible politician and you think that your constituency will benefit from your representation in Parliament? I do not think that has been covered in this Bill, but I think it should be. There is no point for some people to spend several millions of Kenya shillings trying to buy voters. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker Sir, time has come when Kenyans should leave the elections rigging process of yesterday. Rigging comes along with bribing of voters"
}