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{
    "id": 33150,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/33150/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 396,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr. Shaban",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Development",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 139,
        "legal_name": "Naomi Namsi Shaban",
        "slug": "naomi-shaban"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to start by congratulating the Minister for having thought it prudent to restructure the Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission as envisaged in Article 59 of the new Constitution. I have heard our colleague wonder whether what we are doing is unconstitutional. On 27th August, 2010, when the new Constitution was promulgated, the Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission automatically came into place. The National Gender Commission became unconstitutional at that time. So, from 27th August, 2010, what has been in operation is the Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission but now Parliament has been given powers through Article 59(4) to restructure that body, so that it can operate fully on the mandate it is going to be given. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill comes in at a time when the Kenya National Human Rights commissioners, prior to the promulgation of the new Constitution, had done a lot of work. They are internationally recognised. They have been carrying out universal periodic reviews at intervals under this umbrella. They have done all that work not alone but together with the National Gender Commission, which had been in place then. Article 59(4) now allows us to strengthen what they were already doing prior to the promulgation of the new Constitution, so that we can move on, and in order for them to do as much work as possible. There is a robust Bill of Rights which runs in the new Constitution for 23 pages – from page 20 to page 43. The work load is heavy. The Kenya National Human Rights Commission already has so much on its hands, as per the new Constitution. So, the right way to go is to have the two Commissions in place, so that they can carry out their work as mandated in the new Constitution. What is important to note is that apart from the universal periodic reviews that the Kenya National Human Rights Commission will continue to do, as they were doing prior to the promulgation of the new Constitution, they will also start making Parliamentary Reports. That is very important because Parliament is home of the representatives of all Kenyans. It is, therefore, important for Parliament to know what the Kenya National Human Rights Commission will be doing. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I cannot stop thinking as my colleagues who spoke here; hon. James Orengo, and hon. Khalwale made reference to what transpired at the time when we did not have the Kenya National Human Rights Commission, prior to the formation of the same body in 2003. I just want to add onto the list. We had"
}