HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 981157,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/981157/?format=api",
"text_counter": 410,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherargei",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13217,
"legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
"slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
},
"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the future governor of Homa Bay County, you do not need to be keen right now because you will be a governor in your next life. This one is for the people who want to become IEBC commissioners. The observation of the Committee was that the number of 11 was a bit too high. Although we recognize the fact in some of the proposals of stakeholders like the IEBC itself and Kenya National Commission on Human Rights were emphasizing that in provision of Article 10 of the Constitution, on National Values and Principle of Governance, we should have a selection panel that reflects both regional balance, ethnic groups and many other aspects that have been provided for by the Constitution. We, as a Committee, thought that seven will be an ideal number so that we have a neat and more efficient selection panel. In that selection panel, we should try and reflect the aspiration both in substance and the spirit of Article 10 of the Constitution. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I will only make two points then I conclude so that I can give my colleagues to commend. Some organizations represented in the selection panel have no role to play and, therefore, it should be removed. Granted all Kenyans are stakeholders in the section of members of the IEBC. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we cannot have everybody on board. I know we have around 44 tribes, we have so many religions like the Christians and that is why we are using interreligious forum. We are not saying we should add everybody on the selection panel; even for the political parties. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, all Kenyans are stakeholders. However, not all Kenyan organizations can be represented in the selection panel. The same should, therefore, be reduced to only represent organizations that will add value to the panel. In any event, the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), Sen. Cheruiyot, represents Parliament which represents all Kenyans. Therefore, the interest of all Kenyans will be catered for regardless of the other representatives of the panel We have proposed an additional representative from the PSC because they are representatives for Parliament. Parliament is a representative of the people because we are here on behalf of other Kenyans. Therefore, we thought that PSC being members of the selection panel will allow Parliament to have a direct input in the entire process. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the committee in response to the proposed amendment noted that proposals made by the commission were on provisions of IEBC, but had not been addressed by the Bill. With the BBI, there are so many issues happening in the country. As a Committee, we had proposed through you to have an audit of all election laws. This is because, even the conversation we are having now, is the time for delimitation of boundaries. I have seen the different proposals that have been made on the period. There was a time Sen. Olekina, Sen. Murkomen and Sen. (Dr.) Zani had proposals. All of them touch on the IEBC operations and election laws. Therefore, in our own opinion as a Committee, we have taken care of this view. I hope that in the tail end process of BBI issues and constitutional amendments, we will have an audit of election laws. That way, we will not have piecemeal amendments. This is because the National Assembly just came up with this amendment that seeks to create a selection panel."
}