{"id":472871,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/472871/?format=json","text_counter":253,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Kang’ata","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":1826,"legal_name":"Irungu Kang'ata","slug":"irungu-kangata"},"content":"Hon. Speaker, the intention of this Bill is good but in my own humble opinion, it is very inadequate. This Bill has failed to address the real problems which affect victims of a crime. Why do I say so? At present, when you look at crime trend, it is tilted in favour of an accused person. How? First, in a criminal court, an accused person has the right to access evidence before the commencement of the case, the right to look at witnesses’ statements before the commencement of a case, the right to legal representation and the right to bond. When you look at a victim, or what I would call a complainant in a criminal case, he does not have the right to access evidence that is in the hands of the defence; a complainant does not have the right to even address the court apart from when that person is giving evidence."}