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"id": 1029331,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
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"speaker": {
"id": 407,
"legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
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"content": "Madam Deputy Speaker, culture is very important. I grew up in a place called Olombogishi. I was trained by my grandfather to pass on the cultural heritage to the future generation. When we come here, instead of trying to force others to believe in what you want, it is either your way or their way. It will be imperative for us to appreciate our diversity. That is what helps us. We speak our own mind. It is wrong for you to be pointed out and thought that you are speaking on behalf of somebody else. When you speak, it is your culture that has given you that ability to express yourself. Sen. Khaniri, it is this House, it started with the British colonial masters who introduced pieces of legislations that have completely alienated our cultures. They have completely guaranteed that it is only the “west” and their cultural practices that will continue speaking. I am very grateful and I thank you that even today, you started this sitting by speaking in Swahili. This is something that we are closer to. I thank the other Temporary Speaker, Sen. (Dr.) Mwaura, for encouraging us to speak Swahili. I will butcher the language, but I will keep trying to speak it. There is need for us to balance our diversity, but not move away from our culture. I want to echo the words of my brother, Sen. Mutula Kilonzo jnr., when he pointed out that we have completely missed the point. Instead of looking at the economic viability of our cultural heritage, we are trying to modernize everything. It will not help. I have lived in so many countries. In the United States of America (USA), every State is proud of their old cultural heritage. This is why I strongly believe that when we are having this conversation of coming up with the new Constitution, it is about time we moved that issue of that policy. This is because I have seen it is a function of national Government. In fact, it says, ancient and historical monument of national importance. That is a function of the national Government. These are some of the functions that I want to encourage county governors to engage with the national Government and take them back for them to develop them. Tourists should not just be coming to Kenya to visit Maasai land. However, if other counties do not want to, we will continue. We want when we are having this national conversation on how we want this country to go, not to forget where we have come from. Madam Deputy Speaker, as a matter of fact, I always say, I have one foot in the modern culture and one foot in the traditional culture. The traditional culture is the stronger one because it tells me that I am my brother’s or my sister’s keeper. That is why some of us are a little bit controversial in our sentiments when we talk about the change we want for this country. We want a change that will recognize that today, because of modernization, we the Maasais have agreed that we will no longer circumcise our girls. However, we must be respected as a culture, because that is what has brought me here. If you tell me to think or walk like a Kamba, I do not know. I do not expect Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr., to think and walk like a Maasai. Sometimes while he speaks, he throws his hands but I should respect him because he is from Kamba land. When I stand here and I say, no, before you accuse me of being a messenger, first of all, find out where I come from and how I was trained while I was growing up. 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."
}