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{
    "id": 114709,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/114709/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 203,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Midiwo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 184,
        "legal_name": "Washington Jakoyo Midiwo",
        "slug": "jakoyo-midiwo"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the issue of corruption is a big thing, and I think that denying or refusing to accept that this country has some serious issues with corruption would be burying our heads in the sand unnecessarily. We have, again, a perfect opportunity, once and for all, to slay the ghost of corruption. I think corruption is personal to individuals; corruption is not about tribes, corruption cannot be abbreviated in any way other than us going after the culprits. I think we also ought to say fairly and squarely that it is not only the civil servants who can be corrupt. Politicians can also be corrupt. In most cases, they spearhead corruption. So, we need to be clear. What is it that we are trying to achieve? The President was right in saying that we should not use corruption to victimize people. I think it is also fair to say that we should not victimize some people and leave others to walk scot free. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the President said that we need to be cohesive as a country and that is important. Lately, I have been watching a case which is playing out in the media. I have a lot of bewilderment about it. We agreed two years ago that we would seek truth, justice and reconciliation. However, it seems to me that the people who are not interested in knowing the truth are trying to stall the process. I am particularly talking about Amb. Bethuel Kiplagat, an eminent Kenyan. Every day, I see groups and groups accuse him in a way that I think is unfair. I have read in the newspapers. I do not know what may have happened in the Ouko case, but I know that Amb. Kiplagat is the Chairman of the Ouko Foundation which has even educated his children. Some things had better be put right. We better smear people with the truth and not fabrications. That is important if we will be cohesive as a country. In my view, Amb. Kiplagat is as good as it gets. He may have his own faults, but to go after him to stall the TJRC process is unfair, uncouth and a misuse of the due process. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, lastly, we, the Members of Parliament have been accused, particularly by a few Cabinet Ministers, that we are unable to absorb the money meant for infrastructural development. I appeal to the Ministries, particularly the Ministry of Roads, to help Members of Parliament. This is because there is an attempt by these Ministries to push Members of Parliament away from infrastructural development. I think there is an attempt by some people to prove that Members of Parliament do not have the capacity to absorb infrastructural funds when we know the opposite is true. Even some of these monies have not left Treasury. So, I do not think it is fair to blame Members of Parliament. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to second the Motion."
}