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{
    "id": 643483,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/643483/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 89,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Oyugi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 444,
        "legal_name": "Augostinho Neto Oyugi",
        "slug": "augostinho-neto-oyugi"
    },
    "content": "First, I would like to say something that he has not said in seconding this Bill. This extension is a no-cost extension. The Commission, Judges and Vetting Board have agreed that they have sufficient money that they need to do this undertaking. So, it has no extra cost on the people of Kenya. They have the money that was allocated to them. It is only because of other reasons that they were unable to finish their work but they are happy to work within the budget. I know that the Board has taken fairly long to do its job. The Constitution had anticipated that their job was supposed to have been finished one year after the promulgation of the Constitution. However, it is good to appreciate that the Board went through various challenges. There were several appeals and court cases. Like the Hon. Chair said we, as the Committee, looked at all these things and we thought that the best we can do is to ensure that the cases they have considered also have sufficient appeals and review. I know for a fact that this House has had several things with commissions and boards that had been given powers to do certain jobs. I would like to say that the Board out of about 16 or 17 bodies that the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs oversees, this particular one has done a commendable job. The work of the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board has been exemplary. We have had people come from other parts of Africa and other nations trying to seek and understand how this Board has done their work. It is true that sometimes organs that are set up by Parliament do not do good jobs but it is also true that some do good jobs. One of the considerations that we had was a deliberation that we ought to think about creating legislation in future that will ensure that the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Board is a permanent organ so that, at least, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) apart from appointing judges is not the one that considers the firing of judges. This Board should be left to consider and review the conduct of various judges. Like the Hon. Chair has pleaded, I request my colleagues that it is not the wish of this Board to stay in office for too long. They have given consideration that they will give sufficient reports in the next three months if we give them this extension. They have done a good job but it is also fair that the other Kenyans who have been subjected to the Board’s decisions are given a fair chance of review and appeals. It is for that consideration that we, Members of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, found it appropriate to request this House to approve for a no-cost extension to the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Board. Hon. Speaker, I plead with you to help and give considerations as other Members debate this that we support this Board for three months. With those many remarks I beg to second. Thank you."
}