HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 692165,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/692165/?format=api",
"text_counter": 116,
"type": "other",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, allow me to end by highlighting Clause 17. It is very important. It addresses an emerging issue that has been the subject of political debate in the last few years; technology. Therefore, for the first time, other than offences relating to technology being found in election rules, we now have them in the Statute proper. We have quite a number of rules relating to technology, including, interfering with data in a computer or a programme, altering documents or in any other way, interfering with the technological devices and appliances that are used during election. This Clause addresses a modern issue. If you do not protect technology yet we are investing in it heavily in our electoral system, then we are likely to jeopardize the legitimacy of the entire electoral system. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, allow me to make one last highlight. That is Clause 18 on the duty of employers to allow employees reasonable period of leave so that they can vote. This is a very important Clause. In fact, it specifies that employers must give employees reasonable time to vote. In other words, not 30 minutes or one hour. The voting day should be available for voters. Those who vote far from where they work should be given more time so that they can travel to the places where they vote. In some countries, it is an offence not to vote. The Minority Leader is reminding me and I appreciate. In Australia it is an offence not to vote, unless you are sick or there is a very compelling reason why you cannot vote. I hope that is what we should perhaps be considering in future in this country. Voting, just like paying tax is one of the most sacred and inherent embedded civic duties that a citizen can do. Some of the things that citizens should feel proud of doing include voting, paying taxes and love and defend their country. I would like to end there by noting that Clause 18 provides that when employees are given leave for purposes of voting, their salaries should not be deducted neither should they be penalized. Some employers might be cheeky. They may say, “Okay, fine. You can take two days off to travel to vote but we will deduct that from your salary.” That provision prevents that kind of conduct. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I do not want to speak more than I have done. I take this opportunity once more to thank Kenyans and the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of this House. Yesterday afternoon, I am sure they might have interacted with the public to have public participation on this Bill. I am satisfied this is an important Bill. It will sanitize, better and civilize our electoral processes, especially the parts that protect candidates or voters from being molested, coerced and unduly influenced. This is so that Kenya can be a country where citizens make their choices free from any influence as an expression of their birthright and democratic will. Once more, I thank you, Sen. Orengo, Sen. Murungi and your team and all those who contributed in one way or the other, to the development of this proposed legislation. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to move and in the tradition of this House, request my brother and counterpart, the Senate Minority Leader, to support this Bill."
}