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{
    "id": 42736,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/42736/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 369,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Prof. Ongeri",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Education",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 124,
        "legal_name": "Samson Kegeo Ongeri",
        "slug": "samson-ongeri"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, these days some magistrates and judges are unwilling to go forward for interviews because they feel sometimes they may be over- exposed to certain unsavory questions that may be coming. The only recourse to this kind of thing is to be able to have a Supreme Court that overrides all the interests and interpretations of the law as it stands today. We have promulgated a new Constitution. As it is, Parliament alone has been very complex. We have always had to lean back to the Speaker to give the ruling. We are fortunate because the Speaker, on many occasions, has given very solid rulings that have helped us to move the agenda forward. With the establishment of the Supreme Court, there is no doubt whatsoever that this country will be seized with a judicial organ that is able to delve deeply into the laws of this land and be able to interpret them in the light of how they are taking into account our social, cultural heritage and political persuasions and everything that there is to it. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is very difficult to get a foreign judge to be able to understand the ethnic balances in this country. On the surface, we may be seen quarreling, but deep down when we begin appreciating our inherent strengths, we are able to agree. One case in point is on Tuesday. I must go on record that for the first time, this Parliament was able to shed off the very issues that normally divide us rather than unite us. We were able to move forward expeditiously because we were of one accord. I was imagining a situation where we came into a state of paralysis; what would have happened to this House if we did not agree to pass both the Bills that were before this House? I believe this is a body whose time has come and we must establish it as soon as we can. The onus is on this House to do so. I think my colleague; the Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs, has clearly read both the memorandum of objects and reasons on why we are setting up the Supreme Court. At any rate, it is already captured in Article 163(3) of our Constitution. Therefore, what remains for us to do is to pass this Bill. More so, whoever occupies the position of the Chief Justice and the deputy chief justice will not be bogged down with administrative matters because this same Bill establishes the Registrar of the Supreme Court who will handle day to day activities of the court. We believe that the Registrar of the Supreme Court will be able to set up a very adequate and elaborate record system which is digitized, so that we do not get these disappearances of files now and then creating congestion in the dispensation of justice. With those few remarks, I beg to second."
}