Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 111362,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/111362/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 317,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I do so by referring to the report given to this House by the Committee of Experts (CoE). In their report, they are saying that the major implication of the consensus is the shift from the three level to the two level system of devolved Government. This is under devolution and this is what the experts were saying. The reason we shifted from the three- tier system of devolution to a two-tier system was this. It is noted in this report. The public had expressed concerns over the roles the HDC had assigned to the regional level of Government and the cost of administration. These were not a few Members of Parliament, the 21 or so who were there. They were millions of Kenyans who had from 17th November, 2009 given their views for 30 days. They had said they did not want three-tier system of Government because it would be too costly and cumbersome. In building consensus, we arrived at a two-tier system of Government. This is the consensus we achieved in Naivasha. If you look at what the CoE did, you will find that they took 21 days after the expiry of 30 days to analyse the over one million views they got from Kenyans. As they did this, they had the expertise and time. They submitted their report to the PSC. After that, the PSC returned their recommendations and the CoE had 21 days to a gain synthesis and process the thoughts and come up with this final draft. Therefore, I am saying that the PSC had more than 42 days to give us this document. Indeed, if you look at what the PSC did apart from the CoE that had 42 days, you will find that the PSC in their records show us that they had 46 sittings and 46 days work went into this. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am saying that in four days in Kabete, we wanted to undo what the CoE had done in 42 days. We also want to undo what the PSC had done in 46 days. I wondered whether what the Jews asked the son of God made any sense when he said; “I can tear down this House and put it up in three days”. However, the Jews said; “It has taken us 46 years to put up this temple. How can you pull it down in three days?”. Indeed, I am saying that we must appreciate the work that went into this. We must appreciate the principles set out and must do what is not in the interest of our party or our regions but what is in the interest of Kenya as a nation. These are principles that we have set up for ourselves and we cannot abrogate or violate them. I am urging that although there will be necessity to bring some amendments, there are some proposed amendments that are political in nature that have far reaching ramifications in this country. However, there are also some amendments that the religious group had proposed to do with abortion and the Kadhi Courts. We know that these amendments will be coming. They are ethical amendments. We hope that we can agree to bring these amendments and pass this document. However, if any amendment would violate the very principles set; if any amendment would destabilize the country and bring tension in this country again, we should pass this document as it is without opening the Pandoras box. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I end my contribution by saying that, indeed, it falls upon us as Members of this House to do what we can and to play our role. We have been told that maybe, we are just another organ. We have been told that whether we do anything or we do not, this thing will still go. I want to respectably disagree and say that in our hands as a House, lie great responsibility. Indeed, responsibility greater than responsibility of other Kenyans outside this House. If we disagree here, if we mutilate this document in any way that is so fundamental that the people of Kenya reject it, that is"
}