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{
    "id": 1047701,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1047701/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 262,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "Yusuf Haji of Garissa County. The people of Narok County, whom I represent here, recognise him as a person who defended the rights of pastoralists and offer their sympathies and condolences to his family, friends and the people of Garissa County. I would also like to thank the Mover of the Motion, Sen. Orengo, for the historical Motion which allows the Senate of the Republic of Kenya to place on record its profound grief after the loss of our friend and colleague. The late Sen. Haji was a big man. In fact, when I was listening to the messages of condolences from my colleague, I remembered an incident that happened way back in 1988 when his car broke down on the road and he sought a lift from an electrician. When the electrician did not give him a lift, the electrician ended up being arrested and jailed for three months. That just shows you what loyalty means and what it means when you work for the Government and the things you have to do. I would joke with him about those things. Having said that you have to respect the Government of the day. I would not even fault him for that occasion. He was a man with a great heart. I remember talking to him about the challenges in the Mau Forest. I remember one day I told him; “My friend, I have seen something close to your name as one of the beneficiaries of the forest.” He told me; “Let me check and I will let you know.” When he went and checked, he told me; “Maybe there is something like that but we will see what we can do.” In our day-to-day exchanges inside and outside Parliament, we may not always live to the expectations of everyone, particularly people of the opposing sides. However, we must always respect the integrity and the position of every Member. In fact, during the time when we were debating the revenue sharing formula, the sentiments that we are all expressing here characterized the kind of a leader the deceased was. He respected the Government of the day but when it came to respecting the will of the people, particularly the pastoralists, he stood firm and said; “I will forever fight for our people to get resources.” That was a friend. I always say a friend in need is a friend indeed. Our counties were losing money. We all came together and fought for what we believed in. Madam Deputy Speaker, in that spirit, I would like to end by saying this; I hope that the proponents of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) will remember the aspect of the revenue sharing formula that the late Sen. Haji fought so hard for so that it does not continue dividing this country and for all of us to move together. I wish the family all the best during this time. I want to assure them that Kenya and particularly the people of Narok are praying with them and wishing them all the best. May the good Lord rest his soul in eternity."
}