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{
    "id": 602287,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/602287/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 227,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Kanyua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 981,
        "legal_name": "Priscilla Nyokabi Kanyua",
        "slug": "priscilla-nyokabi-kanyua"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. I have a lot of sympathy for what the Member for Wajir wants to introduce in terms of a holder of a degree in social sciences being qualified to be appointed as an adjudicator. Unfortunately, for the purposes of the legal procedures and processes, this would introduce a standard that will really water down what happens in the Small Claims Court. In terms of application of the law, we must have uniform standards across this country. A degree in social sciences can be in environmental studies, a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Commerce. It is going to be a degree in anything and we do not know what standards are going to be applied. Even the poor people of North Eastern region of this country – this is the question we have always had in discussions on access to justice – are entitled to the highest level of justice as much as the rich people. The fact that people are poor and marginalised does not mean that you give them less justice. Having somebody not properly trained in legal procedures and law is going to water down the level of justice accessible. For those reasons, I oppose the amendment and urge the country to find ways of redressing marginalisation. Giving lesser justice has never been an answer to the poor people and marginalised areas. We must insist on the same standards across the country. So, a law degree becomes very critical for anybody who serves in the Small Claims Court. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman."
}