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{
    "id": 307174,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/307174/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 217,
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    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is provided for in this Bill that warrants can be issued by the Director-General (DG). These warrants, as everybody knows, are normally issued by a judge! I think we need to look at that very carefully. The Bill says that the DG can issue a warrant without referring to the courts. We must guard against that. I am not having any person in mind. Today we might be having a gentleman as the current DG. We are proud of him, but who knows who will be there tomorrow? We are passing this Bill for posterity. So, I do not think we should pass this Bill in this form. For example, I am not comfortable with the clause that states that the DG can issue a warrant. The Bill goes ahead to say that “in extreme emergencies”--- These “extreme emergencies” could be misconstrued! We have to define what an extreme emergency is. We need to go ahead and define some of the terminologies in this Bill. If we do not do that, some rogue leadership, God forbid--- We are very grateful that we have had a very decent and understanding President in the name of hon. Mwai Kibaki, but we are not sure who will be the next President of this nation. Given some loopholes such as these ones, a rogue leadership, God forbid, will use this kind of opportunity to take us back to the dark days. You all recall the torture chambers in this country. We must, therefore, be vigilante to ensure that Kenya’s democratic space that we have achieved is guarded. We are very proud of our Constitution and we must protect its spirit and letter. Otherwise, some of the clauses as I have taken you through might lead us into reverting this nation to the dark days and even make it worse. We might bring this nation close to a police state. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those proposals, I support this very important Bill."
}