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{
    "id": 1181405,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1181405/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 84,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ugunja, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Opiyo Wandayi",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Temporary Speaker, let me make a few comments about this Petition. First, there cannot be a right or wrong time to amend the Constitution. Never. It all depends on the issues brought forth and the necessity for effecting them in the Constitution through amendments. Therefore, as a House, we need to continue protecting the right of members of the public to petition this House on anything including proposals to amend the Constitution or any other law for that matter. We must also take cognisance of the fact that our Constitution has now come of age. It is now 12 years since it was promulgated in 2010. It has indeed, come of age and, therefore, in essence, it is ripe for a review, not amendments, but a review. It is also important that Kenyans now start having such discussions. As to how or what approach will be used to eventually review or amend it, this will all depend on the consensus agreed upon. We need to seize the moment and the opportunity that has been given to us by the Almighty God in this 13th Parliament to initiate a debate as to whether we need to review this Constitution or not. As I speak, I see us amending it through the backdoor. I say this because there has been clamour in the recent past for cabinet secretaries to appear before us here and answer Questions from Members. Essentially, this is introducing the BBI through the backdoor, if you ask me. What the BBI intended to cure among other things was this anomaly of Members having to ask fellow Members Questions for which they have no answers to. If we want the cabinet secretaries to appear before us, the surest way is to eventually review the Constitution and have cabinet secretaries appointed from amongst Members of the National Assembly. That way, we will be empowered. Even those of us who are opposing this for the sake of opposing never know, maybe at one time, you will have a chance to become a cabinet secretary. Otherwise, these are very good proposals. Kenyans should be allowed to make and prosecute them before the Committee on Public Petitions. Finally, Hon. Temporary Speaker, whilst that total review of the Constitution can wait, there is a more urgent issue which I will be talking about later in the course of this Sitting; the issue of the NG-CDF. That one cannot and should not wait. I hope Members will agree with me on this. The issue of entrenching the NG-CDF in the Constitution should have been done yesterday so that Kenyans can… What I am raising is very important. We can consolidate all these other petitions seeking for review of the Constitution under the ambit of a constitutional assembly later. However, we should dispense with the issue of NG-CDF now."
}