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{
"id": 1047627,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1047627/?format=api",
"text_counter": 188,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Khaniri",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 171,
"legal_name": "George Munyasa Khaniri",
"slug": "george-khaniri"
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"content": "that the HANSARD and the tributes can be sent to the families. This should be taken seriously, so that we amend our Standing Orders to provide for that. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is with a very heavy heart that I stand here this afternoon to pay my tribute to a great friend. Mr. Speaker, Sir, once again, death has robbed this country of a great leader. He was a leader who was forthright, honest to the core, a peacemaker and a patriot. He was selfless, generous and above all, humble. I liked his humility. Mr. Speaker, Sir, many of you may not believe this, but I have known him for 26 years. I knew the Provincial Commissioner (PC), Mohamed Haji, when I was running for the by-election in 1996, when Sen. James Orengo, the late Wamalwa Kijana, and the late George Kapten had waged a very tough war on me as the Kenya African National Union (KANU) candidate. Yusuf Haji, Musalia Mudavadi, Moody Awori and Andrew Ligale stood with me. That is how I came to this august House. Mr. Speaker, Sir, at that time, KANU was synonymous with the provincial administration. Yusuf Haji, as the PC, was my lead campaigner in my first election to Parliament as a Member of Parliament for Hamisi Constituency. He always regarded me as his son. That is how he called me until he died; “My son.” Mr. Speaker, Sir, unknown to many, I had a close relationship to him because my own father died in the hands of Yusuf Haji. When my father was a Member of Parliament and Yusuf Haji was the PC, I think they had been invited to a function where Yusuf Haji was the chief guest and my father was there as the area Member of Parliament. When he was called to speak, and invite the PC, my father collapsed and breathed his last. His last words were: “ Samahani, soda niliyokunywa inanitatiza, ” and he collapsed. It is Yusuf Haji who went and picked him from that podium, put him in his Land Rover - the official PC’s Land Rover - and drove him to Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Yusuf Haji always reminded me that my father died in his arms while he was rushing him to hospital. That is how closely I related with our good brother, father and colleague, Sen. Yusuf Haji. I served with him in the National Assembly for 10 years and in this Chamber for eight years. Therefore, he has been my colleague for the last 18 years. Mr. Speaker, Sir, when I say that Sen. Yusuf Haji was the voice of reason, I think all of you will agree with me that the old man was indeed the voice of reason when it came to debates in this House. His death leaves the Senate and country poorer. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of my family, my own behalf and the people of Vihiga and the former Western Province, where he served as a PC for very many years, I want to take this opportunity to wish his family well. It is our prayer that the Almighty God will give them strength and fortitude during this very trying moment. It is our prayer that the same God will rest his soul in eternal peace. Fare thee well. We will miss you. We will miss your company, contributions and guidance. Rest in peace!"
}