{"id":1222064,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1222064/?format=json","text_counter":132,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Seme, ODM","speaker_title":"Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. On behalf of the people of Seme and my family – particularly my mother, wife, and daughters, in respect for women – I stand here to pass my condolences to the family of the late Mama Grace Onyango. She was a trailblazer in the society not as a woman in this context, but as a person. It is because at that time we did not have the issue of women empowerment and affirmative action. She saw herself as a person and a member of the society. In that way, she was a trailblazer. She became a councillor, an elected Mayor for the first time, a Member of Parliament, a Deputy Speaker, and later on Secretary-General of Luo Union. Hon. Speaker, I will ask for your indulgence for an additional one minute. This was a leader. Having been here for 10 years, I have seen the difference between a leader and an elected politician. Leaders blaze the trail. They go to areas where people fear even if they are going to lose elections. These people make a difference. As I thank Hon. Machua, you would have thought that this would come from Dr. Nyikal…"}