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{
    "id": 717411,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/717411/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 162,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Baiya",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 8,
        "legal_name": "Peter Njoroge Baiya",
        "slug": "peter-baiya"
    },
    "content": "On his priority and what he will do differently as the Chairperson of the IEBC, he stated that he will ensure continuity of what the secretariat is doing positively in preparation for the elections, voter registration, audit and clean up of the register before the elections. He will put in place a credible electronic system subjected to tests to guarantee safety to avoid breaking down on the elections day. According to him, the IEBC will run at least three mock elections before the actual elections in August 2017. He said that the Commission will engage Kenyans in the election process and create a social media platform. On partisan conduct, he stated that he will maintain fairness being non-partisan in his approach to election management matters notwithstanding that he was a candidate in 2007 on an ODM ticket in Saboti Constituency. He told the Committee that he is not a member of any political party as he has since resigned and returned his life membership certificate to ODM. He said that it is normal for one to contest and lose an election. Concerning parallel tallying centres, he said that legally it is the sole mandate of the IEBC to tally and transmit election results although candidates and parties are free to do their own tallying for their own records. He was asked how he will handle difficult moments during elections, and he said he will be fair to all competitors and avoid reckless statements by commissioners. He said that he will be fully responsible in spearheading the Commission and will work with commissioners as a team. Under his watch, there will be no room for reckless or irresponsible comments that can rock the boat. He said that voter identification is very important as part of ensuring free and fair elections and that is why the Commission will work very hard to ensure that the Electronic Voter Identification Device (EVID) is effective. He will be responsible in making statements as a chairman given that his pronouncement will be taken seriously. He told the Committee that his relationship with Mr. Kinisu is professional- advocate/client. He said that the client had a constitutional right to be represented by an advocate of his choice. He had not received any money from the National Youth Service (NYS) and he does not know the source of the money that his client used to settle his legal fees. He stated that he did not lobby for his appointment and that he did not even know his score in the interviews. He told the Committee that his law firm is financially stable with corporate clients and therefore, he is not a job seeker but rather interested to serve his country at the helm of the electoral body. Among other work experiences, he has been involved in an inquiry into the Likoni clashes, which was set up by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) in 1997. With regard to breaches of the law by the election officials, this candidate was very clear that the law on election offences should be enforced and the commission under his watch should seek to enforce the Election Offences Act as recently passed by Parliament. He will not condone any conflict of interest on the conduct of the affairs of the IEBC, whether by the commission or the 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."
}