Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 552915,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/552915/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 118,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "On the other element of how many polling stations will be established in Uganda, the United Arab Emirates and all the other countries, I want to state that that is the responsibility of the IEBC. We were not able to get that information from the Ministry. That is a new Question that should be directed to the IEBC. With regard to providing a level playing field, again, that is not the responsibility of Government. It is the responsibility of the IEBC to ensure that we have a level playing field when it comes to elections. Therefore, being an independent institution, we should be able to allow them through the election rules and any other legislation that this House may deem fit to enact that will ensure that we have a level playing field in the next elections. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on the aspect of some Government employees being Jubilee and looking at the taskforce to ensure that we have a representative of the opposition, I want to state that public servants serve all Kenyans. Therefore, we cannot identify who is an opposition or Government employee. All Government employees are supposed to be neutral. They are supposed to discharge their responsibilities equitably to all Kenyans irrespective of their political affiliation. On the element of an attempt to rig elections, if you look at the Statement, it is very clear that what the national Government is doing is to provide the necessary support just like it has provided to all other independent constitutional commissions in this country to execute their mandate. We have on several occasions requested national Government to provide support to all institutions. This is a clear indication of good working relations between the office of the Attorney-General, the IEBC and the Ministry in ensuring that the constitutional provisions relating to diaspora voting by Kenyans is achieved. This is a clear attempt by the national Government to facilitate that process. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as captured by the Statement, the taskforce mandate is purely advisory. The outcome of the taskforce shall remain advisory. The IEBC may tap into it and be able to utilize it. If the IEBC thinks that they do not need the information from the task force, that will be left to the Ministry. If you look at the mandate of the taskforce, a lot of it does not relate to just the mandate of the IEBC. Generally, their mandate is to try and help the national Government in its responsibility to ensure that the Constitution is fully implemented. The role of implementation of the Constitution lies with the various institutions of Government and various constitutional commissions. That should be understood in that sense. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have captured most of the issues the hon. Senators had raised."
}