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{
    "id": 518263,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/518263/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 160,
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    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "If you look at the Boundaries Act; the old law that governed boundaries in this country, you will see that the colonial regime was very meticulous in defining boundaries. They defined boundaries to the decimal point. If a boundary passed between two trees, they would even describe it. They would describe it when it was in the mouth of a river, on top of a hill and an ant hill is also described in the old Boundaries Act. With the new discoveries of extractive resources in this country, the need for people to define where their interests begin and end is very critical because much sooner or later, you will find just like coal, oil, titanium or gold, the boundaries can start breeding new frontiers of conflict between counties. For the Senate to live to its mandate under Article 96, we need not only to set up this commission but to be very clear on its timelines and terms of reference so that it clears its work quickly. We must be fully aware that a job as delicate as this; if it comes within an electoral year, can ignite a lot of conflict within the country. We need to move quickly. The work of the Committee should be to bring a Bill to this House within the next one month if not less. We should pass it and determine that the commission that we will set up will not open up every boundary of every county but will only define where they exist and to resolve problems. The commission will then bring back a report for this House to debate, approve and solve the problems once and for all. Ideally, we should target that within the next 12 months, this task should be over so that as we start cascading towards the next electoral campaign and competition, we do not have the baggage of conflict regarding boundaries between counties and constituencies. Once again, I laud the distinguished Senator for bringing the Motion. Once we pass it, I would like to see the Senator for Busia, who is engaged with other colleagues, asking his Committee to move very fast to bring a Bill and even hold a kamukunji with us. Above all, as I finish, I hope that those who will serve in this commission will be men and women of integrity and not people who will come to gerrymander boundaries to meet narrow and parochial interests that can ignite hostility."
}