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{
    "id": 757508,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/757508/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 62,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Tuya",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 926,
        "legal_name": "Roselinda Soipan Tuya",
        "slug": "roselinda-soipan-tuya"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I would like to begin by commending the Leader of the Majority Party, Hon. Duale, for bringing the Motion for Adjournment on this very important and critical issue that is of concern to Kenyans. In exercise of our responsibility as members of the National Assembly, this is an issue that we cannot ignore at this particular time when Kenyans have been subjected to unnecessary anxiety and uncertainty, occasioning Kenyans to unnecessary anguish and anxiety. The matter at hand largely concerns the unprecedented ruling of our Supreme Court. I would like to join the many hon. members and Kenyans, led by His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta, in saying that even as a lawyer and a law-abiding citizen of Kenya, I do not agree with the ruling of the Supreme Court. However, in my standing as a law-abiding Kenyan, I respect the ruling. The Supreme Court, in its ruling, invalidated the presidential election of 8th August and ordered that we go back to the ballot within 60 days. To say that we must go back to the ballot within 60 days, as stipulated in our Constitution, is crystal clear to anybody. Like I have said, we respect that decision, but we have a very incessant process going on – and which I may call theatrics - which is what has generated a lot of anxiety amongst Kenyans. You hear members of the Opposition focusing on anticipated happenings after the 60 days. Why would they be concerning themselves with the period after the 60 days within which the repeat presidential election is schedule to take place? We can only imagine that these are people who have some undercut dealings. I can see our able Chair looking at me very sternly. When you talk of after 60 days, yet we are within the 60 days period within which we should conduct the election – and we have a date given by IEBC legally – then we must begin to question the motive and intention of the people who are talking about that extra-legal issues that we are not concerned with as Kenyans, as of now. Any law-abiding citizen and anybody who may want to consider themselves leaders of this country should concern themselves with a legal process which will give due sanctity to our elections - a process where a voter wakes up in the morning, goes to a polling station and decides the President or leader they want. As Members of the 12th Parliament, this is what we need to focus on. After voters have woken up, voted and decided on whom their leader should be, questions about technicalities, passwords and servers should be secondary to the decision that a Kenyan voter has already made. I would like to speak to the issue which is being flaunted around with people insinuating that we have a temporary incumbency. A temporary incumbency of the President does not exist in Kenya right now. Anybody with a good and clear understanding of the Constitution knows that after the election of the President has been declared null and void, we are not waiting for anybody to be sworn in as President and, therefore, giving us a period of temporary incumbency. We have not held any elections as per the Supreme Court ruling. We have a President in place. We have 60 days within which to conduct elections. I wish to urge all Kenyans to make sure that when we go back to the ballot on 26th October, every Kenyan is given an opportunity to make their decision and we sanctify that process. There is a lot of need - even judging from the Supreme Court ruling - for us to make the necessary amendments to our electoral laws to make sure that we sanctify the decision of the Kenyan voter and not concern ourselves with technicalities which bring confusion and put into doubt a decision made by Kenyans to choose a leader of their choice. 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."
}