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{
    "id": 687643,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/687643/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 408,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wako",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 366,
        "legal_name": "Amos Sitswila Wako",
        "slug": "amos-wako"
    },
    "content": "Thank you. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I was talking about the issue of party hopping and so on. I entirely agree with the recommendations because they should lead to the strengthening of political parties because Kenya is a multi-party state under the Constitution. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we are in a transition period where we know that although the IEBC will do the primary nominations, there will still be very many complaints. We still need to have strong traditions of nominations at the party level. Therefore, during this transition period, a number of people could be denied the right to stand. We have seen quite a substantial portion of the current Members of the National Assembly, the Senate and so on. If they had not hopped to other parties, they would not have been elected. The same case also applies to a number of governors. So, rather than a person to be rigged out hopping to another political party, that person should be allowed to stand as an independent candidate. In other words, he is not leaving one party to strengthen another party but it means that he is the most popular person in a certain constituency. Therefore, such a person should be allowed to stand as an independent candidate. That would have meant that the process of nomination of people who want to stand as independent candidates has to begin not simultaneously with the political parties but slightly after and it would have meant amending that law and so. However, I accept what they have come up with. It must have been for very good reasons. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other thing that I am very happy about the recommendations here is the issue of the biometric. Biometric means unique identifiers or attributes including fingerprints, hand geometry, earlobe geometry, retina and iris patterns, voice waves, DNA and all that. To me, this is a step in the right direction. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is also the Integrated Electronic Electoral Systems (IEES). I listened very carefully to what the Mover and the Seconder said about the entire system. This is a system that will help the electoral process in this country. The law that has been proposed is excellent. However, it must be implemented. Uganda recently had its general elections. All these issues that have now been covered under recommendations in the law were in place in that country. However, the The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}