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{
    "id": 657778,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/657778/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 707,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Macharia",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2367,
        "legal_name": "Jacob Waweru Macharia",
        "slug": "jacob-waweru-macharia"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. It is common knowledge that in this country, elections are fraught with emotions. They cause anxiety. Therefore, this Bill seeks to put in place measures that will control and ensure that we have a fair playing-ground in elections, irrespective of party positions, support base and candidates that are going to vie. I am particularly keen on the fact that this Bill has stopped the debate on whether people waiting for identity cards (IDs) can register. If people waiting for IDs were allowed to vote, we would have all manner of rigging and election malpractice. I am happy that this Bill has stipulated that one can only register as a voter if he or she has an ID. The issue of nominations has also been of great interest to all of us in this House and all politicians in this country. Party nominations in this country have been causes of great pain and suffering for politicians. This law seeks to clearly streamline this by giving deadlines in which nomination rules should be published by political parties and also a timeline in which those who are aggrieved can petition their parties if they do not agree with the nominations. This is important in election planning. The issue of qualifications has also been addressed. I am happy that the issue of the ranking of public officers has come out clearly. Members of Parliament are ranked in position 43 simply because we do not have a bar or qualification criteria under which someone could become a Member of Parliament in terms of academics. At this point, it would be important as a country for us to put in place a qualification criterion. I, personally support the view that a Member of Parliament should have qualifications, preferably a diploma or even a degree. It is important to note that there are Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) in this country who do The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}