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{
    "id": 54844,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/54844/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 211,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kabando wa Kabando",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 31,
        "legal_name": "Kabando wa Kabando",
        "slug": "kabando-kabando"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, to answer Mr. Mbadi, indeed, as a Ministry, we are going to submit an immediate concern to FIFA through the Independent Electoral Board (IEB) for the football federation. We will expect that no elections will be conducted before these concerns are addressed. If that is deemed to be Government interference, indeed, it is legitimate for the youth of Kenya. To answer the hon. Member for Nyakach, the Electoral Code was formulated by the IEB internally. Perhaps, to make an observation, it could be because none of the eight members fell within the bracket of the youthful age of between 18 years and 35 years, and we did not want to arouse unnecessary controversy. We wanted a good result. There was an oversight in that the importance of the youth was overlooked. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is also good to note that sports is essentially about young people aged between 18 years and 35 years. To say that they cannot contest elections for federations, whose mandate is about their sector is an insult. While we submit this concern to FIFA it is also important to notify the IEB, as Kenyans, that there was a bit of uncautious decision in that regard. To answer Mr. Namwamba, as a very informed lawyer, I would concur with him that any regulation that does not accord with the national Constitution, and is meant for an organization or a group or citizens of Kenya amounts to a violation of the Constitution. I would like to assure this House that as a Ministry in charge of the youth and sports, we shall not allow any decision, whether internally made or externally approved, to violate or tarnish the very historic gains that have been made. Therefore, we are giving a very strong assurance. The youth of this country, whom I have learnt this morning notified a certain police station of an intended demonstration on this matter tomorrow, should rest assured that the Ministry in charge of sports and youth affairs is conscious of their concerns. They need not to be worried. We shall not sit and allow them to be stripped of their gains."
}