Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 742737,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/742737/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 127,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Aluoch",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 5,
        "legal_name": "John Olago Aluoch",
        "slug": "john-aluoch"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Speaker, arising from your directions last Thursday, the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs met with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) yesterday, with me as the Temporary Chair. One of the two concerns that were raised in the House last week was whether the proposed amendment by Hon. Musyimi was in order according to the law, and whether it would amount to double allocation. The question was whether it was a proper amendment. We were given a full brief by the IEBC yesterday and we clearly understood that this allocation was passed and recommended by our Committee in Financial Year 2016/2017, but because the date of expenditure falls in Financial Year 2017/2018, it had to come by way of an amendment. The printers of the ballot papers were not willing to go ahead with the contract unless there was a commitment that funds were available, and that is in accordance with the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act. Unless the funds are available, the IEBC cannot commit to start the process. Therefore, as a Committee, we understood the need for the particular amendment. The IEBC needs to have Kshs2.5 billion factored in the Budget of the next financial year. To that extent, the Committee unanimously accepted the explanation and recommends to the House that this amendment be passed. For the benefit of the Members of this House and the nation, I want to share the sentiments expressed by the CEO of IEBC – that, they are in the last stretch of procuring the ballot papers for the August general elections. If, at this stage, the Judiciary stops the process and delays it by even a week, Kenya will not hold elections on 8th August 2017. We understand the independence of the Judiciary, but I wish to urge them to appreciate the circumstances under which we are operating. The process should not be interfered with at this stage. If the Judiciary interferes with the process at this stage, we risk plunging this country into chaos. This is a caution that I wish this House to alert the Judiciary about. In a nutshell, the Committee recommends that this amendment be adopted by the House. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}