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{
    "id": 455533,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/455533/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 330,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Waiganjo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2644,
        "legal_name": "John Muriithi Waiganjo",
        "slug": "john-muriithi-waiganjo"
    },
    "content": "I also support the reduction of the allocation to the Ministry of Devolution and Planning; the Kshs293 million that was meant for the Civil Service reform. It is a good move to have proposed this cut as a lot of civil servants, of course, we know have already moved to the counties. They have been devolved and a lot of payrolls are now with the counties. I very much support that reduction. I am, however, sad to see that there has been a reduction to the Judiciary for the construction of buildings. The reduction has been done of about Kshs500 million. I am very afraid because the consumers of justice in this country are increasing. Of course, we have devolved high courts to all the 47 counties with a view to also devolving further the Judiciary to all sub-counties and wards. So, this was not a very wise move. I also know that the Judiciary had a very ambitious programme of constructing buildings for the judges, magistrates, clerks, and holding cells of suspects. So, I am sad about that reduction. However, I am elated by the allocation increment to the Parliamentary Service Commission for socio-economic audit of Kshs80 million. Indeed, Kenyans have been asking whether this Constitution has led us in the right way and some of them are already clamouring for a constitutional change. So, this task to finish working is long overdue; there has already been serious questions about the Constitution and how well it has served us. I am also happy about the additional Kshs300 million to the DPP. This is very wise. Those of us who are criminal defence lawyers know that our courts are clogged with a lot of criminal matters. We have also seen police prosecutors sending innocent people to jail. We have also seen mishandling of evidence by the prosecution. Most of them are police officers with very narrow and shallow understanding of the law. So, it is time the office of the DPP was revamped and even given a bigger budget, so that the criminal justice system in this country is never the same again. This was very good. It will reduce convictions of innocent suspects. It will also reduce acquittal of criminals. I also like very much the addition of Kshs200 million to the Office of the Attorney-General and the State Law Office. We all know that State Counsel are the most poorly paid lawyers in this country; of course, there are qualified legal officers who are paid much more. State Counsel are paid peanuts. Their colleagues in the private sector are making a lot of money. That is why there is a great exodus from the State Law Office of the Attorney-General to private sector. Also, those who are working within the State Law Office are so demoralized that they hardly give the best to this country. Therefore, I very much like the addition of Kshs200 million. I am elated and must register my joy about the amendment that was just about to be sneaked in on the plenary of this House and I congratulate them."
}