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{
    "id": 687645,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/687645/?format=api",
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    "content": "implementation failed far short of what was required because there was no time to put all these things in place. It requires not just putting all these measures in place, it also requires proper training of the employees of the Electoral Commission in the management of these systems. As a result of that, Uganda had problems. I am trying to emphasize this because the time factor is now an extremely important issue. All biometric systems and other recommendations should be implemented in good time. The public must be educated on these issues in good time, but more importantly the presiding officers, electoral officers and other staff who will implement this must be properly trained. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I was the Deputy Head of the Commonwealth Observer Group in Uganda. Right on the eve of the elections, although this law was in place, they had not actually covered the whole area of Uganda. Not all the polling stations had biometric systems, yet that was in the law. The Electoral Commission had to come up with directives that if a voter comes to the polling station with an identity card, they should be allowed to vote. If they had some documentation and appraisal and the administrator confirms the voter comes from that area, they would be allowed to vote. Therefore, it allowed many people to vote at the last moment because the biometric system had not been installed in all the areas of the country. There were some areas where a fallback position had to be used and results were announced. Some of the complaints were that even these announcements were coming late to the media. Not all voters knew what they were required to carry in those areas where the biometric system had not reached. Therefore, I would like more focus to go to the issue of implementation. How shall we ensure that whatever has been recommended in this document is implemented in good time before the General Elections? That is the issue that, as we adopt this report, we must continue to address. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not want to take too long on this but I want to commend our team for having done a good job. This provides another good lesson in the history of this country. Up to now, whenever this country has had a big problem, we have always come together and applied our minds regardless of political party positions. We have addressed our minds to what is in the best interest of Kenya. These minds came together and recommended what is in the interest of Kenya. If you may recall, we did so under the Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group (IPPG). In 1992, we did so because we had an honest “broker” by the name of the Attorney-General who “broke” all sides. I can remember that day when the Late Jaramogi Odinga, Retired President Mwai Kibaki and Kenneth Matiba came to my office and the slogan the was “no new electoral body, no elections”. We were able to hammer out an agreement on how we should proceed and they wrote me letters nominating people. I found a common denominator in all the lists and I recommended them to the President and we were able to move ahead with that election. Documents are there to support what I am saying. 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."
}