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{
    "id": 1284302,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1284302/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 214,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Omogeni",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13219,
        "legal_name": "Erick Okong'o Mogeni",
        "slug": "erick-okongo-mogeni"
    },
    "content": "In some countries such as China, if you are caught with drugs, you can be sure that it is the end of your freedom until your case is heard and determined. We need to revisit. Every country in the world, you do an audit of your Constitution and see where you went wrong and where it is not serving you well. If I get a chance, even if it is the only one, this is one area where we can make it clear in our Constitution that anyone caught selling drugs to young people and is charged in a court of law should not be granted bail. This is so that we reduce the number of people roaming out here offering drugs to our children. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I do not know why we fear amending the Constitution. It took the Americans two years after 1787 for them to relook at their constitution and propose amendments. The Bill of Rights was not in the American Constitution when it was enacted in 1787. Within the first five years, they had amended 10 articles out of the first proposal of seven articles. To deny Kenyans the Bill of Rights, I know we will say it needs to go for a referendum, but why do we fear referendums if we are doing it in the best interests of our children? The other day, I was watching news that the French people went into referendum to kick out bicycles from Paris. They went into a referendum, the people voted and made a decision. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Australia will have a referendum in November on an issue that touches on the rights of the Aborigines. A referendum is a regular thing. Ever since they enacted their constitution in 1900, Australians have had 44 referendums. Out of these 44, only eight have gone through. The rest have been rejected. I urge the leaders to one time have this conversation. If this issue of drugs has reached the levels it has reached, then it is causing a crisis to our youth. Therefore, let us revisit our Constitution, 2010 and if it needs us to amend the Constitution to deny those selling narcotics and other drugs to our young people, then let us do it. Here in Kenya, the Akashas would go to court today and the following week, they would be free. The moment they left this country and went to America, they have never seen freedom to date. Mr. Speaker, Sir, that is how you deal with hard drugs because it is not a matter to joke with and that is why many countries take it seriously. I urge our colleagues to have a serious conversation and elevate the Motion that has been brought here by Sen. Mumma to a holistic approach where we look at not only e-cigarettes, but also the dangers that our young people face from the addiction of those cigarettes and other hard drugs. I support this Motion with those remarks and hope that we can elevate this to another level in order to save our future generations. I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir."
}