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{
    "id": 40225,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/40225/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 427,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Abdikadir",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1,
        "legal_name": "Abdikadir Hussein Mohamed",
        "slug": "abdikadir-mohammed"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, vetting must be thorough and accurate. It must be fair and structured. It is very important. If I was to read for you a comment by one of the commentators who was commenting on the hearings in the United States of America (USA) Congress, when Justice Clarence Thomas was being grilled--- The first black Justice in the USA Supreme Court was Justice Thurgood Marshall. He was, indeed a friend of Kenya and helped draft the first Constitution of this country. When he retired in 1991, the nominee to replace him was Clarence Thomas. When that matter came up, it was a major fight between the Conservatives and the Democratic Party. There were major and serious alleges against him. Several women said that he had sexually molested them and, therefore, was unfit to hold the judicial office. Those people came before that Committee. That Committee, just like our Committee on this matter, was actually split – seven to seven – on that nomination. The matter came to the US Senate and the Senate voted 52 to 48 to confirm Clarence Thomas. He has been a Judge for more than 20 years and is one of the best Judges. Let me read for you what one of the commentators said. He said: “The phone calls came throughout September. Did Clarence Thomas ever take money from the South African Government? Was he under orders from the Reagan White House when he criticized civil rights leaders? Did he beat his first wife? Did I know anything about expense accounts charges he filed for out-of-town speeches? Did he say that women do not want equal pay for equal work?” Finally, one exasperated voice said: “Have you got anything we can use to stop Thomas?” The article is called “Open Season on Clarence Thomas.” We do not wish to have open seasons on every nominee who comes before a Parliamentary Committee for vetting. Even in criminal cases; even when one is charged with rape or horrible crimes, there are basic standards, requirements and guarantees that those people who are facing criminal charges face. One of them is to know the charges against you. The other is to be able to see what has been claimed against you. The third is to be able to have an advocate for that. The fourth is that this matter must be handled in a fair, open court and in a fast manner."
}