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{
    "id": 762710,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/762710/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 1205,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Cheptumo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 50,
        "legal_name": "William Cheptumo Kipkiror",
        "slug": "william-kipkiror"
    },
    "content": "First and foremost, allow me to thank my colleagues for their very valuable contributions during the Second Reading of this Bill. I am happy that the Members who have had a chance to speak have supported the Bill, save for only one Member who did not agree with the amendments. That is still his right. I wish to say that the purpose of the amendments, as I said when I was moving the Bill, is to clean up our electoral laws. The support given by the Members has confirmed that we have been able to prosecute this Bill in a manner that Members have understood. Hon. Kimunya has made certain proposals which I think as we move to the Third Reading, we will also consider. I also assure the Members that we are going to take into account all the proposals that have been made as we move to the Third Reading. As I finalise, allow me to say that Clause 86(a) of the Bill deals with a very serious situation prevailing in the country. As I said when I was moving the Bill, under Articles 138 and 139 of the Constitution, the law is clear as to the procedure to be followed when the president dies and when there is a run-off. However, where a candidate withdraws from an election, there are no provisions in law to deal with that situation. That is the essence of Clause 86(a). Let me read it: “An eligible candidate for an election pursuant to Article 140(3) of the Constitution (like the one for 26th October) may withdraw from the election by notice in writing to the commission, and – \"Where only one candidate remains after the withdrawal, the remaining candidate shall be declared elected forthwith as the president-elect without any election being held.” This is the vacuum that this Bill was trying to deal with so that if, as we prepare for elections on 26th October this year, one of the candidates withdraws, the remaining candidate can be declared president-elect without elections being held. I thank the Members for the support they have given to the Bill. Let us be together again tomorrow when we do the Third Reading, so that we can input further and have a law that will save this country in any situation like the one I have just mentioned. I appreciate the Members of my Committee for doing a very wonderful job. I appreciate that we have done it for Kenya. History will count us that during our time as a House, we passed laws for the posterity of this country. It is not for a section of the political divide, but for posterity and wellbeing of the Kenyan people. With those remarks, I beg to reply. 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."
}