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{
"id": 1174833,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1174833/?format=api",
"text_counter": 168,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Orengo",
"speaker_title": "The Senate Minority Leader",
"speaker": {
"id": 129,
"legal_name": "Aggrey James Orengo",
"slug": "james-orengo"
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"content": "I am also reminded about Churchill, who became Prime Minister almost by mistake during the war. He lived on to be the greatest English man alive. He has been voted many times as the greatest Briton alive, who came out of necessity. I am trying to say that we have gone through a very wonderful period. We have had a coalition, before many coalitions. This time, we have not had a formal coalition, but this coalition will be remembered not formally in place, but through a ‘handshake’ of bringing peace to this country and a new constitutional dispensation. More importantly, I would like to repeat what I said it in the morning is that the Judiciary is, probably, the most important institution in this country. I said this morning that if Chelagat Mutai was alive today and was a parliamentarian, she would not have been charged, convicted and jailed for the period that she went to jail. I plead with my colleagues that wherever we go, always remember that the greatest institution to keep our democracy alive is the Judiciary. We may disagree with them, but I am hoping that throughout our lives and the contribution to this country, we must always fight for a free and independent Judiciary. In fact, at the founding of the United States of American (USA) Constitution and declaration of independence, the greatest contribution was by Chief Justice Marshall, who in the midst of that victory by Washington, was able to stand up in a great decision to make sure that Judiciary did not go over board. I believe that the next Government probably will have a President who will comply and respect the Constitution. My greatest fear is that, in the midst of victory, sometimes we take the Judiciary for granted. I hope that will not happen. Secondly, Mr. Speaker, Sir, we have had this debt ceiling that we have enhanced upwards making it possible for Kenya to borrow. However, I hope that in doing so, the Government will behave responsibly because we can talk about COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges, but in our nation, the financial discipline has always been lacking. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as we extend the debt ceiling, which has been growing by leaps and bounds, we hope there will be financial discipline to make sure, it is well managed. Although Kenya may make some strides in the area of infrastructure, if we do not manage it well, we will not become a free market economy which can guarantee prosperity to the rest of the country. Finally, Mr. Speaker, Sir, because many people want to speak, I hope that Kenya will come together and live in the spirit that Kenya is bigger than all of us, and that we can stand and defend each other. However, much we disagree, we will be able to stand and make politics the business of governance as long as it is practised in accordance with the rules. If politics is practised in a way of winning at all costs, we may make the greatest mistakes in the land. I hope that both the law and the institutions will not be made either to victimise or propel people into positions where they wish to be. I hope that we maintain the rule of law and order and justice for all because this is how you build a lasting democracy. If you have a system that believes in fighting its enemies at whatever costs, you can never advance. If you have people who are not in Government and want to win at all costs, you can never have stability. So, I would wish to leave it there."
}