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{
    "id": 922653,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/922653/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 319,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "In that Statement, I requested the Ministry to consider the possibility of ensuring each county has their own passport issuant centre. If we are talking about the issuance of passports, what about the office? Many of the average Kenyan folk consider passports to be a luxury. Perhaps, anywhere close to 50 to 60 per cent of the country do not have this document and do not see the need to have it. The numbers could even be higher. Compare and contrast that to the need of having an office of the Ombudsman in each and every county. This Bill is extremely timely. It would be important for this Senate to hasten this process. This so that we ensure each and every county headquarters has a representative of the office of the Ombudsman. Kenya citizens will ensure that each and every time they do not get particular services in a Government office, they know which office they will report to. Having one Ombudsman office per county is not enough. It is just a good beginning. In many of our counties, the average folk plans for once per month travel. It is a big occasion for people to travel from the village all the way to the county headquarters. Many of the people that we represent in this House have to budget and plan their lives depending on the resources that are available to them, and, therefore, establishing an office only at the headquarters will not be enough. It is just a good starting point for people to know that there is a representative of the Ombudsman in their county. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the whole concept of decentralization of the services of the Ombudsman should cascade down to the sub-counties or sub-locations, if possible. That way, people will know that if they have a dispute with the chief who in many of our localities is the final authority on many issues, they will still receive justice. Those of us who have an opportunity to be in Nairobi and have had the chance to get good education, we know the ease with which we can access justice. However, to many of the people that we represent here, the difference between right and wrong in many of our villages is determined by what the chief considers to be right or wrong. Many people will take their disputes to the chief and once the matter has been determined by him or her, that is the end of the story for many of our constituents. Where do the citizens take their complaints if they feel that on some occasions, they did not get what they consider administrative justice? This is important because part of the laws that the office of the Ombudsman will have - as is being proposed in this Bill - under their watch or implementation, is the Fair Administrative Actions Act which is a very important law in this Republic. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if you take time to read and understand the Fair Administrative Actions Act, you will realize that on many occasions, our citizens continue to suffer and face decisions of public officials, which, if they were to take before a competent Government officer; an Ombudsman, who would interpret for them, they would discover that they did not follow the dictates of the Fair Administrative Actions Act, they would then perhaps live a free and happier life than what is the case presently. I take cognizance of the fact that there is a proposal to have headquarters in Nairobi. I will never tire trying to convince fellow Senators on the need to move on from the idea of having the headquarter in Nairobi. When will other counties get a share of having Government offices in their locality if we insist that for every agency that we are The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}