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{
    "id": 333219,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/333219/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 356,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Wamalwa",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 148,
        "legal_name": "Eugene Ludovic Wamalwa",
        "slug": "eugene-wamalwa"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. Hon. Mututho has sought in his clarification why we do not know the number of all Kenyans who travel out and yet they have passports. There are many Kenyans who travel out of this country but for reason best known to themselves, do not register with our embassies or consulates. This is an issue that needs to be addressed. Kenyans out there should register with the closest embassy or High Commission, so that we know how many there are out there. Once we have done that we will start the registration because already we have the rules in place. After carrying out the census to establish how many Kenyans are there, we will prepare them to participate in the next general election. For now the Government is very committed to ensure that these Kenyans participate. It is not that the Government is being retrogressive in its thinking it is just a question of practicability. With the time left and the challenges the IEBC is facing even locally, can we really expect them to carry out voter registration all over the world? Kenyans out there are also challenging. If you are saying that we only register in the few High Commissions or embassies, what about Kenyans who are living in countries where they do not have an embassy or High Commission nearby? These are all issues that need proper preparation, logistical preparation and support to be able to effect the realization of this right. So, it is really the practicability and it is going to be achieved progressively. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have suggested that we can start with certain parts out there. We could even start with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region, the East African Community region or Europe, but how do you allow Kenyans living in London to vote and you leave out Kenyans living in New York? It is a question that needs proper preparation before we go out; let us get our house in order within this country. Let us get all the 18 million registered. Let us prepare properly to avert what happened in 2007/2008. That is all we are saying; we are not saying they will be denied this right. There will be progress from this year to the next until we allow them to participate in the next general election. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, hon. Karua asked why the decision is belated---"
}