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{
    "id": 1065698,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1065698/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 165,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Bomachoge Borabu, Independent",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Prof.) Zadoc Ogutu",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13302,
        "legal_name": "Zadoc Abel Ogutu",
        "slug": "zadoc-abel-ogutu-2"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Speaker, the Bill before us has been constituted through a process that has engaged more or less the whole of Kenyan community. I know that there has been a good purpose for this Bill. Many of us are already aware of the situation that we find ourselves in as a country after every election. The Bill that is to be amended goes beyond the point of election. It talks about what else has happened between elections that has drawn this country to a state of hopelessness. It has been a good opportunity for the leadership of this country to provide this particular narrative for Kenyans to begin engaging, for Kenyans to begin probing themselves with the kind of differences that I am seeing in the House, which opportunity can then help to reshape this country? The change Kenya is looking for cannot come from one thinking. It can come from the diverse viewpoints as we are witnessing in this august House. As much as others may look like they are opposing the Bill, all they need to understand is that there are various pathways to bring about the change that Kenya is looking for. This is one of the pathways. There is no single pathway that can have a smooth flow. There will always be bumps. There will always be hurdles. As a nation, the fact that we have begun to engage on our differences is a good opportunity. We may not repackage all the challenges that we have but it is a good opportunity. As we move forward, we expect that as we unveil one opportunity, there are challenges which can be addressed. Hon. Speaker, the Bill before us, for amendment, addresses a number of critical issues that many of us have gone through in our lives. When you look at the distribution of resources in this country, my big question has been: Why do we tend to ignore the numbers that need to be supported by the resources? This Bill has addressed that through the creation of constituencies. Many people are wondering whether this is going to create a huge wage bill. The amendment comes with a package of other measures that will enable this country to grow its wealth. We have a number of proposals under the economic models that if implemented, will see this country prosper. We also have a number of opportunities that have been opened up for the youth, for instance. Those opportunities are supposed to contribute to the wealth of this country. So, as much as we may be looking at the wage bill that comes from this new amendment, let us also look at the service that the amendment is going to create in this nation. The clause on public corruption in itself, if well implemented and works out well, I am sure this country will recover a lot of resources that have been lost before and between the election periods. Finally, Hon. Speaker, the damages, the costs, the inconveniences and the economic delays that come after post-election, if this Bill, as it has already been presented, opens a space for leadership, the number of recoveries will be enormous. This Bill also brings to this country a window of opportunity at the grassroots level, not only in engagement but also in bringing in more resources at the ward level. This, indeed, is an opportunity for distributing the Kenyan nation’s resources. For that reason, I wholeheartedly support this Bill. I encourage my colleagues to look forward and see this as one window that can enable this country to move a step forward. Change cannot be expected to come at once. Change is a process. We are in a process of bringing about change in Kenya. We must move even when there are hurdles. I support this Bill. I thank you."
}