Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 966810,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/966810/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 309,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to second the Elections (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bills No. 18 of 2019). From the onset, I would like to state that this Bill is a good idea. I will start by posing the question: ‘What is in a name?’ I remember when I first met Sen. Wamatangi, I was told that he is referred as such because he has donated water tanks to so many people. Similarly I used to refer to Sen. (Eng.) Maina, as Sen. Kirinyaga. I thought he was the Senator for Kirinyaga County hence the name. Sen. (Eng.) Maina has given examples of what happens in other jurisdictions like the United States of America (USA). I lived in the USA for many years and there were many instances where candidates were known by their nicknames. During the 2017 Elections, I was refereed as ‘Olchekut’ . That was the name everyone used to refer to me. That experience made me wonder what would happen to my vote if someone went to a polling station and said that they want to vote for Olchekut only to be informed that there is no candidate by that name. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we use nicknames to increase votes or score more points because people relate to us to extent of composing songs. From the onset, I would like to state that I support this Bill. However, I wonder whether we should amend this Act. Maybe we should follow the practise as is done in the State of Louisiana in the USA. I would like to invite Sen. (Eng.) Maina to think about either moving this Bill as it is or amend the elections codes. If we go for the latter option, I suggest that candidates should have their names written in full, but add the nicknames in quotes for example, Ledama Olekina ‘ Olchekut ’. That method would allow candidates to maintain their legal names, but have their nicknames for the purpose of elections. I am aware that Sen. (Eng.) Maina was forced to swear a deed poll for him to use the name Kirinyaga. I believe that we do not have to go to that extent. I invite Sen. Kirinyaga to think about amending the elections codes that gives every candidate an opportunity to use their legal name as well as their nicknames so that in every ballot paper, will bear a candidates official name as well as the nickname. That move will help us to avoid reducing nicknames into pieces of legislation. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I strongly support this this idea. But I would like us to compare our situation to what happens in the USA. In the USA, one’s legal name is important because it is associated with the social security number. I am sure Sen. Kihika who schooled and practiced in the USA as an attorney will tell you the importance of a legal name being used in an election. Nicknames are good. However, it would be practical to have it in election codes so that it allows creativity. If we make it an Act, people can become very mischievous. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, time is running out and I am sure that other Senators would like to contribute to this Bill. I therefore beg to second."
}