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{
    "id": 657781,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/657781/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 710,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Katoo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 199,
        "legal_name": "Judah Katoo Ole-Metito",
        "slug": "judah-ole-metito"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity to support this Bill. We are talking about elections. Election laws have only to do with elections. In an election, a candidate requires three institutions. First, you require the support of the people. You need to convince the people to buy your ideology and philosophy so that you can get their support. Secondly, you require the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Third, you require the Judiciary. IEBC is just a referee that supervises the elections and announces the people’s verdict. If as a candidate you are not satisfied, you will require the Judiciary for arbitration. I say that because of the current hot political temperatures in the country whereby these two institutions, especially the referee, namely the IEBC and the Judiciary - where you will go for arbitration - are being discredited. It is really worrying that we, the politicians, are saying that we do not trust or have confidence in those two institutions. It is not something voters will take lightly because that would breed anarchy. Therefore, I plead with my colleagues in the political class to bring down the political temperatures with respect to these two institutions, especially the IEBC and the Judiciary. If politicians say that they do not trust the Judiciary, that tells you that if one does not accept the verdict of the people as announced by the IEBC - the referee - then we will not have an institution for arbitration. In 2013, there was a presidential election dispute. Those aggrieved moved to court and the Judiciary made a decision. I applaud the step taken by those aggrieved saying that even if they did not agree with the verdict, they would respect the ruling. If we start saying this early that we do not have confidence or trust in the Judiciary or the IEBC with regard to elections, to an extent of even disobeying court orders, we are not heading in the right direction. Having said that, let me go to the Bill. There is need for us to have a credible, free and fair process that will end up in legitimate results that can be honoured by those in the political field. Looking at this Bill, I agree with my colleagues who have said that we should not just view it as though it only talks of academic qualifications for those who want to fight for political positions in this country. We should do a clean-up of all the electoral laws. Clause 7 of the Bill tries to amend Section 22 of the parent act, namely the Elections Act, 2011. It talks of the academic qualifications required for all the five offices, that is, the National Assembly, Senate, Women’s representatives, governor and the presidency. The academic qualifications of the governor and the presidency are already described elsewhere in the Constitution. It talks of a Member of Parliament having a degree and an MCA having a post- secondary school diploma from a recognised institution in Kenya. This requirement for MCAs is only for the 2017 election. Thereafter, the Bill says that they should be holders of a degree from a university recognised in Kenya. Having high educational qualification is not a licence that you will be a good leader. We have seen, in this House and even before and at the county assembly level, where professors compete with people who have never gone to school and the professors are defeated because leadership requires wisdom. You can be knowledgeable but wisdom is inborn and God given. It is not books that are required for you to be a leader: it is the people’s 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."
}