Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 52381,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/52381/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 330,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Maj-Gen. Nkaisserry",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Defence",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 192,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Kasaine Ole Nkaissery",
        "slug": "joseph-nkaissery"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I stand to support the Bill. In doing so, I would like to congratulate the Minister for bringing this very important Bill. Instead of us lamenting what happened in 2007, we need to look for solutions to future problems. In establishing this new Commission, we need three critical things. The issue of integrity is very important. Any citizen occupying any position in the proposed Commission should be a man and woman of integrity. We do not want to go back to where we came from in 2007. I have never, from my background--- I was dismayed at what happened in 2007. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as you realize we have never had the opportunity to celebrate the swearing-in of a new Executive of the Republic of Kenya. It was because of the former Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) which bungled the elections. We do not want to go back to such a situation in future. In Africa, there are several examples of bad governance. This bad governance is brought about by electoral commissions. If the electoral commissions do not comprise of men and women of integrity, they will always take us back to the dark ages. In forming this Commission, we need credibility and commitment to this nation. Never again will we fight because of one individual who is going to occupy State House. It should be that Commission which should tell Kenyans who won the election. This is what we intend to establish by passing this very important Bill. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the functions and tasks of this Commission are articulated in the Constitution, Article 88, and in Clause 4 of this Bill. I find there are some anomalies in the Bill, especially when you look at Clauses 9 and 23. I quite agree with my colleagues that you cannot have a secretary of the Commission being overall. He or she should be just the accounting officer. However, the decision maker is the Commission, the Chairman and the commissioners. The secretary is just an accounting officer. He should not be the chief executive of the Commission. He should be the chief executive of the secretariat. I think we must separate these two by cleaning this Bill. As regards to the staggering of the appointment of commissioners, I have no problem with it. However, when you look at the time--- As we pass this Bill, Kenyans are anxious and holding their breath regarding when this Commission will be established. There are very serious challenges which will face this Commission. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when you look at the Fifth Schedule, one of the challenges is the delineation of the new Constituencies. This is a big challenge. The sooner we establish this Commission, the better. I congratulate the Minister, because when you look at the Fifth Schedule, Section 2, he has specifically said that the primary material is from the former IIBRC. If we go back to politicking when establishing new units, we will hold this country back from having an electoral commission. This is a primary material. The raw material is there and this Commission should just pick from there and move forward. Ten years down the line, we can always change. Instead of going back and going round in circles as politicians which will take us back--- All of us cannot get everything every time. Some people will get something while others will not. Some will get this time while others will not. So, we cannot bring politics again to an issue which has already been established or which has already been clear."
}