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{
    "id": 1078612,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1078612/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 134,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suba South, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Mbadi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": "I called Hon. Jakoyo Midowo, my political mentor and, indeed, he was. I must confess that I have had two political mentors, and both of them are now late; the late Gerald Otieno Kajwang’, who started mentoring me into politics before I even came to Parliament and Jakoyo Midiwo, who immediately I came in here, gave me opportunity and immediately spotted some potential and put me very close to him. He introduced me to parliamentary procedures and allowed me space to grow. Jakoyo was someone who had no jealous. He would want you to grow as much as he grew politically. He was also very open, candid and honest. After the death of Joshua Ojode in a grisly accident, and his replacement was being discussed in the political corridors, I remember meeting Jakoyo in the stairs and he called me aside and told me that it was being said that I was going to be appointed assistant minister, but he did not want me to be appointed. He told me to my face and I asked him why. He told me that if Ababu Namwamba was crossing over to the Government to become a Member of the Cabinet and if he lost me as well, who would remain in the back bench? I told him that he was not thinking about my personal development and that he was thinking about the party. He immediately took about one minute thinking about my statement and told me that he agreed with me. So, that is Jakoyo. Other people would go behind your back and start discussing how you should not be appointed, but he first reached out to me and told me that he thought I should be appointed assistant minister. We have lost such kind of a person. He was someone who could trust you once he knew you had some capacity and competence. I remember one time there was a Report that was tabled in this House through the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock that was chaired by Hon. John Mututho. The Report had personalised attacks on the Office of the Prime Minister. We sat with Jakoyo in the Prime Minister’s Office with the technical team and agreed, the two of us, to bring amendments. He told me to go home and read the Report as he was also going to read it. We would converge the following day and propose amendments. I read up to 3.00 a.m. and came with amendments. When I met Jakoyo the following morning, he just laughed and told me that he knew I was going to read the Report and so I should go ahead and propose the amendments. When I took the Floor and made my contribution, all the Members, including the Cabinet Ministers, agreed with me. I think that is the first clear mark I made on the Floor of this House; that is how Jakoyo could trust you. I could go on and on. Among my friends, there is no Hon. Member who has visited Suba South Constituency like Jakoyo Midiwo. He did so many fundraisings for me as the chief guest. It is only his constituency and Rarieda Constituency, where my wife comes from, where I have visited outside Homa Bay County more than any other constituency in the Republic of Kenya. So, I do not want to take all the time for my colleagues. It is, indeed, a sad moment for all. All the MPs here, especially those who served in the last Parliament and the previous Parliaments, will agree that we have lost someone who, even if he was not with you in the same side of the political divide, you could interact and socialise with him and he was a very genuine human being. I want to stop there. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}