HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 1042103,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1042103/?format=api",
"text_counter": 1659,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13131,
"legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
"slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
},
"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, the tradition of this House has been that the Senator of the county in question, when there is an impeachment, ideally keeps quiet. Ideally, when a vote comes, they should normally abstain, unless it is a casting vote. That is exactly what I am going to do today. Mr. Speaker, Sir, allow me to just to give some history. One, I am privileged and honoured to be the one member in this House elected by Nairobians representing 4.3 million people of this county, and who has sworn an oath to protect the interests of the people of Nairobi and those of the Nairobi City County Government. Based on that solemn oath that we all took, I have numerously brought Statements, questions and raised issues to do with Nairobi City County in this House. Without blowing any trumpet, and I know you said that sometimes you blow your own if it is complicated, I think of all Senators, concerning their counties, I have brought the most issues. In fact, it is almost poetic that last year, at a time like this, and I shared this on our group recently, I brought a request for a special sitting to discuss Nairobi City County because at that time the Governor had a case and there were issues. The then Majority Leader refused to call a special setting. A year later, we are discussing an impeachment. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this city of Nairobi is literally the hub of this continent in terms of economic opportunities. Nairobi ideally should be Africa's New York. If you look at the geo-politics of this continent, if you go to the West, Nigeria, which is just mineral- based, investors do not want to go there. If you look at the South, it is imploding. Look at what is happening in Ethiopia. The frontier for the economic development of this continent is Nairobi. That is why the issues of Nairobi must be taken seriously and we must look at them keenly. I acknowledge and I want to say in front of everyone, because I always put my cards on the table, that since 2017, of course, we campaigned together with the Governor. We worked together initially and I think it is not lost on anyone that we have had our run- ins. We have not seen eye to eye on a number of issues. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I insisted that every time I brought a question of oversight, it has not been about personal interests or a political contest, but about the intrests of the people of Nairobi and I continue to do that. When the Governor's impeachment came up, many people including media houses, Members of County Assembly (MCAs) and different actors asked me to comment on it. However, I believe in grace such that it is wrong to kick someone when he or she is down. That is why I have resisted to gleefully dance on anybody's grave. I have resisted the urge to celebrate, but to empathise with the people Nairobi. It is for that 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."
}