Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 67340,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/67340/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 299,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. M. Kilonzo",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 47,
        "legal_name": "Mutula Kilonzo",
        "slug": "mutula-kilonzo"
    },
    "content": "I would like to thank the Leader of Government Business and the House Business Committee for agreeing to put this Motion on the Order Paper. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when I look at you, I see a man who has fought for reforms in this country at enormous risk to you as a person as well as to institutions you have run. These two Bills are indeed the first substantive Bills to be published in this country following the promulgation of the Constitution. I am saying so because the only other Bill that this House has enacted into law is the Bill for the establishment of the Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution. I stood here then and thanked you as well as the House for passing that Bill. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, you will have noticed that that Commission was produced by this country in a consultative manner, and that Commission is doing a wonderful job. These two Bills were in fact published as early as 30th August, 2010, which was only three days after the promulgation of the new Constitution. However, out of the dictates of the Constitution – I remember you even addressing this matter – it was thought that to debate them was premature and so they were withdrawn from Parliament until the consultations required under Article 259(11) of the Constitution with the Commission on Implementation of the Constitution, including the various sections in the Transitional Clauses. I am happy to say that, as the Leader of Government Business has kindly mentioned, the House advised and agreed to my Ministry’s request to withdraw the earlier Bills, notwithstanding that the Commission had already approved the Judicial Service Bill. It is because we felt that it would be far better that since God has given you two legs, you move with the two instead of moving with one. Therefore, we come in readiness with pride and with confirmation that the processing of these Bills is now as constitutional as the Constitution requires. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, therefore, since these Bills have been in the public domain since August, 2010, it is only fair that we reduce the period of publication from 14 days to six days. They were published on 27th January, and they have been distributed to not only hon. Members of the House but also nationally, so that we can debate them. The issues arising from these Bills are very fundamental today on the national scene as well as elsewhere. The fact that the first Bill seeks to comply with the Constitution in terms of vetting all judicial officers, comprising of judges and magistrates serving in the country, and that the second Bill seeks to establish by law, the Judicial Service Commission; and also to create a method for recruitment of new judges, it cannot be gainsaid that these two Bills will, in fact, form the foundation for the Constitution implementation process. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, being such a distinguished lawyer, you will probably understand this even more than I do. Therefore, I beg to support."
}