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{
    "id": 113924,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/113924/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 270,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mrs. Ongoro",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 125,
        "legal_name": "Elizabeth Ongoro Masha",
        "slug": "elizabeth-ongoro"
    },
    "content": "In the recent past, the Kenyan community sent its own people to intervene in countries like Southern Sudan, Somalia and other countries. When we do that, we do that with a very good intention to bring peace and to achieve global peace that all of us are looking forward to achieving. It cannot, therefore, be that in our own country, when we invite the international community to come and help us at times of crisis, after achieving the much needed peace, we turn around and refer to these same people as external--- We now want to refer to their assistance as external interference. Everybody was here in 2008 when we went through the crisis that all of us really loathed. But all of us did not exhibit the capacity, or the ability, to bring about the peace that we wanted. Every Kenyan, all leaders included, did not have the capacity to compel the two principals to come to an agreement. It was the international community, with very good intentions, who were invited and eventually put in place the Coalition Government that we now see. Now, when a baby is born and we now, after only two years, are experiencing problems with this two-year-old baby, and we do not want to make reference to those who midwifed the baby into being, I think we are only being hypocrites. Those who are now talking really loudly and making bold statements, that Kenyans should never seek international mediation, or international help, were present in person, with all abilities, and they did not make any move that brought peace to this nation! I find nothing wrong. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, while I really support local solutions at every level, I am also sober enough to know that some solutions, like the one we needed in 2008, require people who are not partisan; people who come from outside this nation. Indeed, they came and did a good job and we should not turn around and make statements that we will never appreciate anything that comes from outside the country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to state that having listened to the President’s Speech, I was not convinced that he came out with a very bold and good way forward on the issue of corruption. What we listened to, and what is contained in his Address is what all of us are used to. It is just another stanza to the music that has become what we call our fight against corruption. What is more baffling, though, was the President’s sentiments that we should not politicize nor personalize the issue of corruption. I am wondering how then we are able to talk about the issue of corruption. It is not robots or trees that get involved in corruption; it is individuals with names, holding certain portfolios, and you cannot deal with this monster that is called corruption without making reference to certain names. Though I am also in agreement that nobody should be crucified falsely and the issue of corruption should not also be used for witch hunting but, definitely, it is a political issue. As politicians, we cannot say that we should not politicize the issue of corruption. When an individual or two people take from this economy Kshs20 billion of taxpayers’ money that causes the 40 million Kenyans to suffer for the next five, 10 or 20 years, is that not a political issue? As politicians, the issue of corruption is political, and the issue of corruption must be personalized, because we cannot talk ambiguously about this and make references that do not really point at any direction. Lastly, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to support the President that, yes, we need a new Constitution. But I was here in this House last week on Thursday when an hon. Member rose and made a Statement that can only be termed as intimidation to hon. Members of this House and, by extension, to the community that is Kenyans! The process of constitution making, as we have stated before, is for the people of Kenya and none of us has got the mandate to intimidate, or to tell a section of this society that if you will not pass that constitution as it is, then chaos will break out. That is intimidation! Every Kenyan has got a right to contribute, to make their sentiments heard; every one of them, even a community of five or a family of two! Nobody should intimidate us by saying that the exclusion of the Kadhi’s Courts will lead to chaos in this country. Christians are members of this nation by right and nobody is going to intimidate the Christian community. Those who have spoken on behalf of the community are people who hold the position with highest authority within the Christian community. Nobody is going to stand here to tell them that all their sentiments are rubbish, and that they are not going to be heard! Then, we can also, as the Christian community, say that the retention of Kadhi’s Courts will lead to the rejection of the Constitution, and nobody is going to whip us! Nobody is going to take us to any court! It is our constitutional right and you cannot rubbish the sentiments of 70 per cent of this nation. With that, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to support the sentiments contained in the Address Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir."
}