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{
    "id": 1152849,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1152849/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 60,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Rarieda, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Otiende Amollo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13465,
        "legal_name": "Paul Otiende Amollo",
        "slug": "paul-otiende-amollo"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Six years ago one-day shy, Her Excellency Lucy Kibaki left us in the month of April. Five days ago, His Excellency Emilio Mwai Kibaki left us. Perhaps this is the Almighty’s way of demonstrating their enduring love for each other till death did them apart, as the Bible says. We all know and accept that His Excellency Mwai Kibaki was not only the longest serving Member of Parliament by the time he died, but also the most experienced. We can debate about many things, but we all accept that having been plucked by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga from the plush serenity of Makerere University to come and serve as the Executive Officer of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), he remained steadfast and committed to this country. He was definitely a gentleman of Kenyan politics. He was gentlemanly to the point of being mistaken for a fence-sitter. We all know that behind that gentility was a very careful and calculating, but principled man whose integrity was not easy to question. He was a man who, when some of his friends sought to bring his integrity into question, had the courage to release them. This is a man whose focus was not only on the economy, but also on democratic space, meritocracy and later, on constitutional reforms. His legacy is superb. It was nearly bloated out in 2007 when some of his handlers led him into a process that he was not fully persuaded on, aided by the Judiciary at the time. To his credit, on recognising that, he accepted the subsequent process of reconciliation that ended up in a Government of National Unity. Together with the Right Hon. Prime Minister, they were able to steer this country to a situation of unity that had never been seen before, to exponential growth and to put the foundations for legislative and constitutional reforms. I am proud to have been one of the beneficiaries of the four organs of reforms, that is, the Committee of Experts. Today, I wear the insignia of the Elder of the Burning Spear, which His Excellency Mwai Kibaki accorded me for my service to the country in writing the Constitution, way before the age of forty, based purely on meritocracy. I had the opportunity to serve as the first Ombudsman of this Republic at the time that Mwai Kibaki was president. I can confirm that the entire process was purely based on merit. Both in the Committee of Experts and as the Ombudsman, there was no single day that the President sought to exert undue pressure or as lawyers say, to force us to work with let or hindrance. He respected principles, meritocracy and allowed independent institutions to do their work. This was a man to be emulated. There are lessons to be learnt in his humility in deputising the Commander-in-Chief, in restraint of want and greed and in his principle to walk away when he thought that there were differences in principle. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}