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{
    "id": 1072423,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1072423/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 90,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "when they come to these offices, the Senate of the Republic and other institutions to seek what is right to be theirs. The Bill of Rights creates and is one of the core parts of our Constitution, what we call basic structure. That is the real basic structure and not what we were hearing last time. These rights are not what is given to you by the Government, but it is what cannot be taken away from you by the Government. We must appreciate them. Tell them that they must know that there are Senators in this country from different communities, not necessarily theirs, not even close to where they are from, who believe in their right to exist in this country. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, at a time like this, when our country is talking about pursuit of unity and trying to create cohesion, build bridges, we must understand that there is no way we can build bridges or achieve cohesion without equalizing opportunities. We must equalize opportunities for every Kenyan, no matter where they come from or born. If there is a section of Kenyans from Habaswen to Migori, Kilifi to Turkana and anywhere in between who do not feel as Kenyan just because they are tribal is small, or because they have gone through historical injustices and nothing has been done to them, then our claim to building bridges or pursuing cohesion is tainted. Building bridges cannot focus on four or five big communities or a few big communities. At the raider of this initiative or endeavour, the national spotlight must be first on these communities that have been considered small. The problem we have had apart from competition between communities, especially big communities, is that we have never been able to truly define what is a Kenyan identity. Are we just 43 or 44 communities who are found within 586,000 square kilometres and must get along? Or is there something that runs through that makes us Kenyan, so that we can say we are Kenyan first? What does it mean to be a Kenyan? If we do not do this, all of these are attempts. I support these attempts. They are not the final attempts, but all of these attempts will come to naught even after you have finish this first amendment and some Kenyans do not feel as Kenyans? When today they cannot access offices, they cannot be responded to on their issues and they are being evicted. Opportunities are not just communities in terms of ethnicity, but they are also about class. I am very happy Sen. Cherargei has given us example. We have sounded like we have broken records in this House when we talk about evictions, yet we have protocols in this country about how to deal with evictions. I have brought issues of Ruai, Njiru and Kariobangi to this House. Sometimes I sympathize with the Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources. They are overwhelmed. That Committee has 27 or 28 Petitions. I am sure you probably give this Petition to them as well. They will not solve these petitions. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we must design a better way for us to be effective because we will just bring petitions here but prayers will not be answered. Kenyans will get tired when they keep coming for recourse here and nothing is done. Unless we fully respond to these issues, unless we make sure that the poor Kenyan understands he has the same rights as rich Kenyans; the small community"
}