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{
    "id": 110101,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/110101/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 435,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kosgey",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Industrialization",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 177,
        "legal_name": "Henry Kiprono Kosgey",
        "slug": "henry-kosgey"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this has been a very long process. Although some people have said that this process started immediately after Independence, 22 years ago, Kenyans realised that we were not headed for the right direction, and that we needed a new Constitution. Kenyans realised that equity and justice were a far cry in this country and, therefore, we needed a new Constitution to correct the injustices that were building up. One aspect that came out very clearly is that we needed to devolve power and resources, so that the people could have power and money. That is the crux of the matter. Kenyans realised that the Presidency had become too powerful. Over the years, the Presidency had become “imperial”, as they called it at that time, and it became a hindrance to the attainment of justice and equity in this country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the presidency controls the Executive, because it appoints members of the Executive Arm of the Government. The presidency controls the Legislature, and I will tell you how. The presidency also controls the Judiciary as it appoints members of the Judiciary. Members of Parliament know that there are 210 Elected Members and 12 Nominated Members, making a total of 222 Members in this House. At one time, 30 of these Members of Parliament were Ministers, and 70 were Assistant Ministers, making a total of 100 Members of Parliament in the Executive. Therefore, all that the Government needed to pass anything was just additional 10 Members, a number it could get from the Nominated Members. So, actually, the presidency controlled this House. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, therefore, there is need for proper and clear separation of powers, so that we can have the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary arms of Government being truly independent of each other and hence, the need to provide for checks and balances. One of the ways to provide for checks and balances is devolution of"
}