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{
    "id": 49547,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/49547/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 461,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Keynan",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 41,
        "legal_name": "Adan Wehliye Keynan",
        "slug": "adan-keynan"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, all that is now history, but we must reflect on it. I am saying this because when I see colleagues demonising the Tenth Parliament, I am normally taken aback. This House lacks business. That is the reality we must talk about. The work of the Government and the independent Constitution Implementation Commission is to generate Bills for the implementation of the Constitution, but they have not done so. Sometimes I see my good brother, the Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs, blaming the Tenth Parliament, which is idle. Five months ago, we were recalled from a recess. We came here, but there was nothing to be done, because the Government had not put its act together. The independent Commission that we have put in place, and the Ministries, which are expected to generate Bills, have failed to measure up to the expectations of Kenyans. Sometimes I wonder why Parliament has become a dumping ground for all the failures of other Government Departments, when we know the reality. This blame must be borne by those who are tasked with this particular responsibility. As Parliamentarians, we must stand up and say: No, it is not us who have failed. It is those individuals. That is why, over the years, we have said that we needed to have independent institutions. We wanted institutions which are free from the day-to-day political manipulation and interference. So, the Commissions that have been given this role must work day and night and ensure that we meet our targets, otherwise, we will all fail. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Kriegler Report has two extreme recommendations on the issue of elections and electoral boundaries. For those of us who come from ASALs, including you, we used to say “one kilometre, one vote”. Those who come from the advantaged regions used to say “one man, one vote” but, eventually, we came together. We must accept the fact that Kenya is a country of diverse regions, diverse people, diverse religions and diverse ethnic interests, but all these must come under our national interest. The Bill before the House is very important. First of all, in order for us to have free and fair elections, we must not only have an effective electoral commission but we must also ensure that we have a working Judiciary. A working Judiciary is the only resemblance of continuity and respect for law. Right now, we are talking about the kind of Judiciary we envisage. Even if we have the best electoral laws but we do not have a working Judiciary, we will fail because it will just take a rogue judge to sit down and craft a ruling or judgment, and throw out all the good things that are contained in this Bill. Things must be done early enough. We must reform the Judiciary and come up with a working election and boundaries review commission."
}