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{
    "id": 1269643,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1269643/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 358,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ugunja, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Opiyo Wandayi",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Temporary Speaker, I said at the outset that I will try to be very cautious and temperate. It is not for me to investigate militias. That cannot be my work. Not long ago, I heard a Member say here that those who have been killed were not killed by police. Then it means they were killed by non-police persons, who could only be part of a militia. Whoever is responsible can investigate and tell us who these militia are. If you want to make this country retain its status in the community of nations, we must be very careful about whatever is currently happening. Over the years, the National Police Service has been known to be a service of repute. It cannot be allowed to descend to the level it is currently descending. You cannot accuse hapless and unarmed citizens who are going about exercising their right under Article 37 of the Constitution. Having been provoked with water cannons, teargas, police truncheons, and bullets, they have to defend themselves. The right to defence is also acknowledged, not only nationally, but internationally. Today, we are talking about people throwing stones in defence of their rights to demonstrate. One day, they may graduate from stones to something else, and that is when you will realise that peace is a very precious commodity. Hon. Temporary Speaker, the Member for Gatanga is daring me to try. I do not think he knows me. This country has witnessed something that has never been witnessed in the past four regimes. I have been lucky to live through those four regimes. The kind of brutality that has been meted out on innocent, unarmed citizens in the last couple of months is unprecedented. Those of us who lived under Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta are amazed at the kind of brutality that is being encouraged by officialdom. I want to repeat what I said yesterday. You may gloat and be happy that these injustices are being misused against your so-called opponents, but tomorrow, the same injustice will be committed against you. I repeat that however long it takes, the authors, commanders and planners of these The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}