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"id": 8887,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/8887/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. M. Kilonzo",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs",
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"legal_name": "Mutula Kilonzo",
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"content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, in fact, I will probably do it in less than five minutes. I want to salute hon. Members for these wonderful contributions. As I said, this is a new country. Every point of view is important but also sometimes we have to be fair. This Bill was published on 21st September, 2011. I was summoned to CIOC meeting two Mondays ago. We ended up clapping at each other because we did a wonderful job. At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that I would be called for another meeting to discuss the Bill. I have not received any invitation and, instead, what I am noticing is an attempt to make it look like I have any issues with the CIOC or seeking consensus. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on the Budget cycle, we occasionally forget that Article 2, sub- Articles (5) and (6), make all treaties that we have signed, laws of Kenya. We also forget that we have the Treaty for East African Co-operation which in Articles 82 and 82 requires that I mention them to you, so that you can consider them in your ruling. They require the harmonization of micro- economics and financial policies within the region. Mr. Speaker, Sir, therefore, whilst I agree that we can, probably, bring a Bill, and I have a lot of time for Ms. Karua, so that we can do the budgeting match, quite honestly, the arithmetic I did in High School does not show that we will be able to do so, because we are now in November. Nobody has proposed a Bill for changing the financial year. If you change the financial year, you must be willing to go--- I do not want to change the financial year myself; I am happy with June. So, if you want to change it, change it. Therefore, the issue is clear that for Rwanda to join the East African Community, they had to change their financial year from December to June. For Kenya to change Article 260 to provide for any end of financial year other than 30th of June, you must convince the rest of the East African Community to amend similarly, so that you have one uniform financial year. You will find that in Articles 82 and 83 of the Treaty for East African Co-operation. Mr. Mbadi, whom I respect a great deal is citing the Provisions of Article 256(1)(b). I am satisfied that I have addressed it. If I bring to this country a proposal for free transparent, uniform and well prepared elections, why should I not bring to three amendments to a Constitution that the country loves so much? Mr. Speaker, Sir, you do not have the luxury of the Supreme Court where they can refer this matter to the High Court and wait for the High Court to rule then come to the Court of Appeal and then come to the Supreme Court. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you are our Chair. You are our leader of this very important institution. The buck stops here; the sooner we appreciate that as Parliament, the better. The engagement spoken of is covered by Article 256(2). I will be in the frontline if you allow First Reading to start the process of seeking consensus not just in Parliament, but throughout the country because I know nobody in this country wants an election where everyday there will be somebody saying my votes have been stolen. My elections have been rigged. Therefore, this term that Ms. Karua used of “ generis ” is a beautiful phrase, but the ordinary voter in Kenya does not understand what it means. I know a lot of lawyers who also do not understand it. I want to say to the country, all that I am saying is that I want by the time you cast your ballot to know that the country was prepared for elections. I want to assure you that this country is not ready for elections in August, much as I loved August very much because that is a very critical month. So, merely because I have addressed articles in Chapter 7 which is suspended, Chapter 8 which is suspended, if you call that omnibus, I love you, I respect you, I will accept your decision. But ultimately even if this Bill goes out, the issues that I have put forth have to be addressed at the same point to have a uniform approach to elections. I respect my Whip, but he says I must not mix gender because he wants to debate to decide whether this Parliament will be bloated. In fact, that is one of the principal fears that I have that because we have inadequate representation of women in this House, the men who are saying they support gender may easily turn on me. When we were debating the Sexual Offences law, you will remember I was the only male Member of Parliament who for two weeks was supporting that Bill."
}