Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 48596,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/48596/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 448,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Ethuro",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 158,
        "legal_name": "Ekwee David Ethuro",
        "slug": "ekwee-ethuro"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to make my contribution to this particular Bill. I would like to thank hon. M. Kilonzo for bringing this Bill to the Floor of the House, being one of those Bills that are required of this House to pass. This particular Bill is extremely critical because it deals with the manner in which we conduct our elections to produce leaders for this country. This Bill is being discussed against a background of post-election violence. It is against a background in which we disbanded the Electoral Commission of Kenya. It is also coming at a time when democracy in Africa is under serious threat. This year, there are quite a number of elections that will take place in Africa. We have cases where the incumbents, after losing, do not want to give up power. We also have had cases where the losers think that it is their right to win. While I appreciate the desire to conclude debate on this Bill given the time, it is better to debate and not conclude than just to conclude before we have not debated properly and to the satisfaction of everybody. Apparently, each and every one of us must go through this process. It is in our interest, individually and collectively as a nation, to ensure that we establish one of the best IEBC that this continent can produce. So far, so good; the IIEBC has worked very well and we are quite happy. We think it is going to form a basis and a solid foundation in which the future Commission will operate. I am always hesitant to congratulate the Commission because it has been conducting by-elections and the referendum, which are less contentious situations. Let us wait and test them in 2012 when individuals like us will be desiring the highest office in the land and we will be trying to come back to the House. That is when the real force behind elections will come out. I say this because even the ECK headed by Samuel Kivuitu that we disbanded did a good job in 2002. We seemed to have forgotten and condemned them. I want to register that it was very wrong for us to disband the ECK. Instead of dealing with the politicians who were causing the mess, we decided to blame some Commissioners who were just, maybe, acceding to the appointing authority which took them there and asked for the binding to be done. So, I want to address not really the mechanics that are in this Bill, but the issues to me, that are external to the Bill and the operation of the Commission. I want to address the issues that will influence how the Commission will operate."
}