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{
    "id": 1257924,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1257924/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 45,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Mbadi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": " Hon. Deputy Speaker I want to appeal for sober debate in this matter. The question before us is about the right of Kenyans to picket and express themselves vis-a-vis what the Leader of the Majority Party has said about the security of Members of Parliament. Those are two issues we need to deal with as a House. I agree that Parliament, as an institution, must be protected from any kind of harm, threat or insecurity witnessed elsewhere in the world. We do not want to have a situation like what happened at the Capitol Hill, USA, when supporters of former President Trump invaded the precincts of that institution. However, we must allow Kenyans the latitude and freedom to peacefully express themselves around the precincts of Parliament. There is no indication or evidence that the Kenyans who came to the precincts of Parliament yesterday threatened the peace or security of Members of Parliament. If there was such evidence, it should be tabled in this House. We need to be tolerant. As a House, it is time we created space for picketing around Parliament Buildings. You cannot ask those who want to picket about parliamentary proceedings to go to KCC. They must do so around Parliament Buildings. We have always been tolerant as a public institution. In fact, at the gates of Parliament, we have seen Kenyans come with pigs and call us “M-Pigs.” We never beat up anybody. We allowed them to picket. It is very unfair for the Leader of Majority Party, who is a good friend of mine even at a personal level, to come to the House and tell Kenyans that when I was the Hon. Leader of the Minority Party, I was cheering the tribulations of other Members. I am one person who power has never gone into my head. I do not allow power to get into my head. I do not need to prove anything for my coalition or party to know my level of loyalty or commitment towards the just cause of the people of Kenya. I have done it previously, I continue to do it and I will do it up to the time that God has planned that I will be sitting in this House. My friend, Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah, I want to persuade you that when you get power, manage power. I see the Leader of the Majority Party, a gentleman who used to be very polished when he was the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. He was my student in the Legislature. I have been tutoring him including coming to my house. I have been telling him how to conduct himself. He has become an Hon. Leader of the Majority Party, and is completely wasted. He has become arrogant. He even talks to seniors like me very rudely. Hon. Deputy Speaker, save us from the Hon. Leader of the Majority Party."
}