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{
    "id": 125879,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/125879/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 410,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. M. Kilonzo",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 47,
        "legal_name": "Mutula Kilonzo",
        "slug": "mutula-kilonzo"
    },
    "content": "One of the things that is clear is that this country should be governed by law. The amendment seeks to bring that to bear. Hon. Members have read the Report very carefully. One of the things that is very striking in writing the Report, the Task Force and I want to salute them, did not at any time, cite those particular laws. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would have been happy to see a reference to the sections that we have now inserted by amendment. It would have informed that the Task Force was aware of those particular laws, particularly Sections 70, 71, 72 and 75 of the Constitution. It would have sent a message to the country and the House that the intended actions at the Mau and other blocks of land, including other water towers, are not intended as revenge or punishment. They are not intended to malign the rights of citizens as conferred by the Constitution. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the constitutionalism that this country so badly needs at this time, is such that when a task force makes recommendations, even for those cases where a person is alleged to have acquired the land irregularly, that irregularity is justifiable under the Kenyan Constitution. It is justifiable in the sense that nobody, not even this House, can dare say that Mr. Y or X irregularly acquired land prior to investigation, examining the records available and giving that person a right to a hearing. Even in cases where title deeds were given, nobody has said that Kenya went through a revolution and that our Constitution was at any time overthrown. Mr. Speaker, Sir, even the disputed elections of 2007 occurred under the Kenyan Constitution. That Constitution ought to be respected. In so far as it was a transition that has been acknowledged under the Grand Coalition Government, it behoves us as law makers, to respect the Constitution first and the law. I want to salute Mr. Ethuro. If it were up to me, I would have cited even other laws like the ones that Prof. Anyang’-Nyong’o referred to. The time to respect law and order is now. This country should not be scared of going to give compensation to a person who has been given a title deed by a legitimate administration that had secured recognition under the Kenyan Constitution. Nobody says democracy is cheap. It is expensive, but our starting point ought to be the Constitution to recognize the rights of citizens when they hold a document. I recall a time when a friend of mine declared that title deeds held by people in that"
}