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{
    "id": 676158,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/676158/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 262,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Kang’ata",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1826,
        "legal_name": "Irungu Kang'ata",
        "slug": "irungu-kangata"
    },
    "content": "First, the number of people proposed to sit in the panel is fair for both sides of the House. There has been a proposal that two people should be from the Jubilee Coalition, two from the CORD, and three to be nominated by the Public Service Commission (PSC). I had a problem with this proposal when we were discussing this issue in the Committee. I was arguing that we are too many in our side compared to our colleagues on the opposite side. I was of the opinion that all committees and panels should be appointed proportionate to the strength they have in the House. We cannot be deemed as if we are equal. In the spirit of give and take, we agreed to equally share the positions. I am surprised to see my colleagues opposing this proposal, which is giving them undue influence and numbers in that Committee. If I was in CORD, I will support this idea because they have been given a lot of leverage. They are told to nominate equal numbers compared with what we are proposing to be given. Secondly, the Leader of the Minority Party said that the PSC represents the interests of the ruling coalition. To the best of my recollection, that is not true because people who sit in that Commission were vetted by this Parliament and, therefore, that was a collective decision of the House. In any event, it is a constitutional office which has been given constitutional independence. It is not subject to directions from the Executive or Parliament. The argument that PSC represents the interests of the Jubilee Coalition is hogwash. In my opinion, what makes me support this idea is that I understand that we have a parallel process that we must respect but on the other hand, we have work to do. We must be ready in the event that the Joint Select Committee gets into a stalemate. The world is not going to end on the basis of the deliberations of that Committee. This Bill is an extension of our work which is to prepare this country for an election. Sometimes when I look at the CORD, I wonder whether these people are really desirous of an election being held in August, next year. Why do I say so? If you look at the election calendar, you will find that it is humongous. It involves many things. We need to procure materials and train personnel. We need to do a lot of work. Notwithstanding the little time that we have between now and the elections time, there is already agitation to kick out the IEBC commissioners. Secondly, it is not only the commissioners who are being targeted by CORD, but even the staff. If you kick out the staff and the commissioners, and then you start frustrating the effort of this Parliament to make laws which impact on the elections--- I find a situation where CORD is setting us up for an election that is going to be unfair and not free. I would like to tell my colleagues who belong to CORD that it is good for them to fight for their leader, Raila Amolo Odinga. It makes a lot of sense. However, remember that the election that is going to be held next year is not for one person. You will not only vote in the presidential elections. As a parliamentarian, you will require an IEBC that is duly constituted and has been given ample time to prepare itself before we go into election. The way things are going, we are will have a situation where we shall have a new IEBC that will not be fully prepared for elections. Therefore, this is just what the Government is trying to do in this law. It is preparing us for elections. First, what is the procedure of reconstituting the IEBC? Secondly, in the event we will have a situation where we invite applications, what is the procedure? 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."
}