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{
    "id": 109974,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/109974/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 308,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Eng. Maina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 75,
        "legal_name": "Ephraim Mwangi Maina",
        "slug": "ephraim-maina"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, the new Constitution has been awaited in this country for a long time. It has been a long journey and now it is at the stage where this Parliament is supposed to come out, as leaders of this nation, rise above their personal interests and see that the new Constitution of Kenya is a document that will serve the people truly. I think the greatest thing we can do, as a people, is to ensure that the new Constitution brings unity in this country. We are all aware of the ethnic divisions that are in this country. We are all aware of the risk that this country is running, unless the ethnic divisions are given important consideration by every leader of this country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I wish to support the document that is on the Table of the House, because I wish to see this country move forward. I think at a later date when there is need, we could all come back, and we will be in a position to make changes to the document in places where we think it is not in proper shape. There are a few clauses that I would wish to comment on. One of them is the issue of abortion. It is my considered view that Kenya is a God-fearing country. Those of us who are Christians will recall that God said: “I knew you even before you came into your mother’s womb.” I think it would be inappropriate for us to tamper with the making of life, which is best effected by the almighty, God the creator. Mr. Speaker, Sir, there is the issue of devolution. Devolution has to take two parameters. There is the devolution of power and devolution of resources. Democracy has to do with the people. I wish to underline that as we discuss this document and move ahead, we should ensure that population is the basis of making decisions regarding resource allocation. I think the document, as it stands, points out that. I wish to support the document as it is. There is the issue of the ethnicity. Let this House not introduce anything that will stir the ethnic divisions that are already in the minds of Kenyans. I would wish that we come up with the document as it is. I support the 47 counties that have been proposed. It would be very wrong for us to introduce any amendments or issue in the document that would actually worsen the ethnic divisions that are already in the country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this country has to move forward. The greatest challenge to this country today is one; eradication of ethnicity in the country, and two, the economic development of this country that the Government has pledged to undertake. Finally, the greatest challenge we have is employment of our youth. The greatest challenge we have is to ensure that 70 per cent of the population is usefully employed, and usefully contributes to the economic development and the future of this country. Therefore, as we discuss this draft Constitution, let nobody try to create the feelings that we have created in the minds of Kenyans that once this document is through, employment will be generated tomorrow, the cost of living will go down and that ethnicity will be wiped out tomorrow. It will be the duty of the leaders of this country to ensure that we go ahead and preach to our people the need for reconciliation and remaining together. Nobody can say that Kenyans fought because there was no new"
}