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{
    "id": 936096,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/936096/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 217,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherargei",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, thus far, the case has been mentioned twice; on 17th September, 2019 and 28th October, 2019. On both occasions it was mentioned to confirm whether a bench had been constituted by the Chief Justice to hear the case. On 28th October, 2019, the court stated that it was aware that there was a bench, but did not have details of the judges that were to be on the bench. The bench is supposed to serve the Senate with a mention notice for directions on how the case will be heard. In the meantime, a mention date has been fixed for 21st November, 2019 for further directions. I urge the Senators who will be available on the mention date to attend. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I take this opportunity to urge the Chief Justice to urgently appoint the bench. This is not just a matter about the Senate but constitutionalism and upholding the rule of law. Our Committee has been visiting prisons to inquire into the administration of law and justice and human rights conditions in prisons. We have found that there are many challenges including poor infrastructure, children being put up in the same cells as adults, delays in handling of cases, leading to backlog, high bonds and bails being issued to petty offences, prison land being grabbed, amongst many other challenges. We have had several discussions with those charged with management of the prisons on these issues and we will soon be proposing legislative and policy interventions to strengthen the legal and institutional framework of prisons. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, arising from the visits, our Committee, together with the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, has paid bonds and bail, from individual Members’ personal resources. I thank Sen. Faki and Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr., who visited and paid bails and bonds that are less than Kshs5,000 for inmates who in most cases are unable to raise such monies and have been given long sentences over petty offenses. Last month, Justice Odunga declared Section 46 of the Prisons Act unconstitutional and issued orders that prisoners serving long term---"
}