Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 617801,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/617801/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 251,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Njagagua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2336,
        "legal_name": "Charles Muriuki Njagagua",
        "slug": "charles-muriuki-njagagua"
    },
    "content": "persons who might not have what we would call a locus standi in legal terms. The ones who would wish to just get into any matter because they know that, at the end of the day, there will be some little money for those who will be providing legal aid. The Bill is very clear that this legal aid should be granted in areas of civil law, criminal law, constitutional matters and those of public concern. Those are matters where you would find land has been grabbed from a public institution. People who are not able to defend themselves in court or articulate their matters in court can approach the National Legal Aid Service and they can be given legal aid providers who will take over their matters. The bottom-line of this Bill is to provide accessibility to legal aid for Kenyans. As Hon. Members who have contributed earlier have stated, it is coming out very clearly that legal aid services are way out of reach for many Kenyans. As a legal practitioner, I know we are clamouring, as lawyers, that remuneration be enhanced over the years. With the effect of inflation, those of us who offer legal services get paid far too little than what we ought to get. But now, this Legal Aid Bill will be offering services to those who are not able to visit a law firm or hire the services of a lawyer. Those who have spoken before have mentioned the issue of corruption in the Judiciary. Not that I want to speak for the Judiciary or hold brief for them, but I know quite a number of judicial officers who are not corrupt, although some may be corrupt. A case in point is the matter which is currently on social media and in the newspapers, where it is alleged that money exchanged hands. My take on that, as I contribute to this Legal Aid Bill, is that every person should be taken as innocent until proven guilty. Those are the provisions of the law. For now, I would suggest that we give the gentleman the benefit of doubt until the tribunal is formed. That is when the entire details will come out as to what did or did not transpire. I support this Bill."
}