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{
    "id": 473628,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/473628/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 187,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Waiganjo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2644,
        "legal_name": "John Muriithi Waiganjo",
        "slug": "john-muriithi-waiganjo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity to support The Victim Protection Bill. From the outset, I want to congratulate the sponsor of this Bill, hon. Millie Odhiambo. This Bill is overdue because the global trend is emphasizing on the protection of victims and witnesses. We know what has been happening in our country and the world over. There is an urgent need to protect not only witnesses but also victims. I am aware of Cap.79, which is the Witness Protection Act, but even within the Witness Protection Act there are some areas that are not properly covered. This Bill covers certain areas that are not covered by our other laws. What this Bill provides for is not covered under the Criminal Procedure Code. The Criminal Procedure Code generally talks about the procedure in criminal prosecutions. It does not provided for reparations or compensation. So, this Bill will fill the gap left by the Criminal Procedure Code. It is also coming to fill in gaps that may have been left by the Penal Code, because the Penal Code only defines crimes and prescribes penalties. It does not go beyond that to look at the wider picture like providing for victims. Even The Evidence Act has nothing to do with the victim. So, this Bill is now coming in to offer solace and information to victims. As you know, victims of crimes are never compensated within our criminal justice system. In fact, when you are a victim of crime, you have to go and seek compensation in a civil court. So, this is a one-stop Bill that will make sure that even victims are provided for within our system. This Bill will establish programmes to prevent victimization at all levels of the Government. This is important. This is an important Bill because, as you know, the Government is the biggest abuser of victims, particularly where they are victims of State malpractices. So, this Bill will buttress certain positions that were not provided for before. I look at Clause 4 on the general principles and I cannot help saying that we have had a criminal justice system that lacks in a lot of ways. It is quite discriminatory in terms of the period which a criminal case takes in a court, the manner in which the criminal offence is investigated and the manner in which evidence is presented in court. So, Section 4 appears to be emphasizing an obvious constitutional provision on fair hearing The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}