Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 590981,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/590981/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 47,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Chanzu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 11,
        "legal_name": "Yusuf Kifuma Chanzu",
        "slug": "yusuf-chanzu"
    },
    "content": "This Bill also says that, in spite of the fact that it is a Kshs100,000 limit of jurisdiction, the Chief Justice has leeway to set the amount that the courts can adjudicate depending on where it is and when the application is made. That is also a good aspect. You do not have to go to higher courts. That limit can be varied by the Chief Justice as he deems fit. The other issue on the use of local dialect is a very important aspect. Previously, when someone went to court and he was not literate in English or Kiswahili, it meant that the person had to have an interpreter, but in this case local dialects will be used. That means that those who are listening to the cases will bring locals to listen to them. This is good because the issue of interpretation even in other matters like technical issues has been a big problem. People do not understand what is being talked about. Occasionally they are misled because they do not understand what is being said. So, the convenience of local language is very important. The other aspect that we need to address is that several Bills have come. We have had a number of Bills coming on these reforms that we are bringing to our justice system. There is the element of how they will be implemented so that when they get to higher levels, there is ease with which they can be done. There is also going to be need for publicity. There are things that we or the Government does for our people, but they are not aware. The issue of civic education should come in so that Kenyans can be informed of such facilities and use them. On the number of things that we have done including the new Constitution, there are those that carried out civic education, but they did not get to the people. There are a number of people in Kenya who do not know what is contained in the new Constitution, and yet they are the ones who passed it. There will be need for public education through barazas once this Bill goes through, to draw attention of Kenyans that there is this facility which is available to them. There are a number of laws we have passed that most Kenyans do not know, for instance, laws on security. Laws are passed but Kenyans are not aware of them because they cannot access such information. That aspect, Hon. Speaker, should be given more emphasis. We can use radio stations to make Kenyans know that we have such a law dealing with small claims. They will understand the advantages of the Small Claims Courts such as low cost, convenience and flexibility. It will be better for us, as a country, if Kenyans are informed about this court. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}