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{
    "id": 470305,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/470305/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 34,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Billow",
    "speaker_title": "The Senator for Mandera County",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 260,
        "legal_name": "Billow Adan Kerrow",
        "slug": "billow-kerrow"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to second the Motion by the Senate Majority Leader. I also want to take the earliest opportunity to, first, congratulate all our Senators who made it to this House and at the same time express my appreciation for the Address by His Excellency the President. First of all, I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate His Excellency the President and the Deputy President on their election. I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for the good and wonderful job they did during the elections. The reason why I am saying so is very clear. First and foremost, this is the only election and the only one under the new constitutional dispensation where six elections were being held in one single day. This is an institution that was set up barely a few months before the elections. With all the challenges that we know; financial, human resources, political intrigues and every other thing that we know, the Commission went out of its way to conduct this election and that is why we are all here. Mr. Speaker, Sir, We know that not everyone is happy with the outcome of the election, not only this one but any election. Some of our colleagues, with all due respect, obviously, theirs is a case of sour grapes. However, His Excellency the President and the Deputy President were validly elected by the people of this country and confirmed so, soundly, by the Supreme Court of this country. Therefore, that Commission; whose results were validated by the Supreme Court, stands to be commended, and I do so. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Address by His Excellency the President was remarkable in many ways because it addressed the many challenges that are facing this country. It also expounded on the manifesto and the objectives of his Government. In particular, I want to talk about two or three items. First, this is on the commitment by the President to fight corruption to ensure that there is accountability and transparency in his Government. You will appreciate that the major problem we have had in this country is not the lack of resources but the fact that the resources that are available in this country; money that is raised by hard working Kenyans as revenue for the Government largely disappears in the pockets of people who are involved in corruption. The commitment by His Excellency the President that his Government will address the issue of corruption is, indeed, a very welcome move. In fact, I want to urge the President that his commitment to zero-tolerance must be seen and should not just be a question of what we have seen in the previous Governments that they are going to do so. The President must walk the talk with regard to fighting corruption. I also want to join the Senate Majority Leader in congratulating the President again for his commitment to the implementation of the Constitution. He has already shown the signs by committing himself to a Cabinet of 18. I think that is remarkable. As The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}