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{
    "id": 936102,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/936102/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 223,
    "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, my apologies for that. I thank the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations for pointing that out. For Sen. Sakaja to be at rest, I appreciate our party leader and Senior Counsel, Sen. Wetangula, Sen. Sakaja of Nairobi City County, as well as many other Members of the Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations. I was not being biased; my heart just loves my Members more. Last month Justice Odunga declared Section 46 of the Prisons Act unconstitutional and issued orders that prisoners serving long term sentences be released after serving two thirds of their terms. This is critical as it will assist with rehabilitation and decongesting the penal system. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, our Committee has held many consultative meetings with the Multi Agency Team on Anti-Corruption on the issues, to expedite resolution of cases and the challenges that they are facing in the fight against corruption. I hope that even as the austerity measures against the Judiciary are taking place, I request the National Assembly who are considering the Supplementary Budget to be careful as they make budget cuts meant for Judiciary. Lack of sufficient resources will ensure that the fight against corruption will not succeed because the Judiciary will not have enough resources. During our discussions, our Committee proposed that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions considers implementing the issue of plea bargaining to resolve cases. I am happy to report that the guidelines on plea bargaining are now in place and I take the opportunity to congratulate the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Noordin Haji, for taking this bold step. This will not only help to reduce the length of trials but also help to decongest the penal institutions which are currently filled with inmates serving life and death sentences. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we will be tabling our report and Draft Bill on Anti- Corruption before the end of this Session. I, therefore, urge the investigative agencies that fight corruption in this country to continue with their work and ensure that corruption is brought to an end. As you are aware, on Thursday, 26th July 2018, the Senate adopted the Report of the Select Committee on Solai Dam Tragedy. Our Committee was mandated by the Senate to monitor the implementation of several of these resolutions. In the course of this implementation, it came to our attention that the Njokeria Dam in Nakuru County was leaking. The Committee wrote to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation and NEMA, notifying them of the Committee’s intention to visit the Dam to assess its status and inviting these institutions to avail a report on the status of the dam. Even though this visit did not take off as planned, I am happy to report to this House that recently we saw NEMA visiting the dam and we are expecting a status report on the dam to be submitted to the Committee and subsequently, we will submit a comprehensive report outlining measures to address such issues. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, going forward, the Committee intends to carry out the following key activities during the next quarter: 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."
}