Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1442858,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1442858/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 54,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "We passed the Constitution in 2010 and thought that at that particular time, we had finally succeeded to slay the dragon of corruption. This is a challenge that we have dealt with as a country for the past 50 years. What people are saying is that instead of getting better despite the fact that we have created independent offices, it has become worse. That is a conversation that we, as a House, need to have. Something that we have not resolved at this point is that when we have the thematic areas, shall we resolve them as a Committee of the Whole? There is a big thinking that says given the national importance of this conversation, we cannot even relegate it to the committees. There are those who hold a slightly different view and we will take time to reflect. I am willing to be persuaded as I listen to my colleagues when they will be speaking on whether we should deal with it as a Committee of the Whole. We must invite the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) here and they must tell us why we are not succeeding. Is it because of the law? What do we need to do as a country? Even this design where we have an officer from the EACC in every county--- Basically, they are quickly captured and become appendages of the corrupt system in our various counties. The same can be said nationally. Mr. Speaker, Sir, if we are to be honest, I wish that the country also indulges us. Corruption is not only a problem of leaders, but it is a national problem. It is a value problem that we have as a people. We cannot just speak about what leaders are doing without taking time to consider how we should run our politics without using money. How do we make politics less influenced and infiltrated by the power of money? Unless and until a country has that conversation, I am afraid we are not likely to win this conversation. Part of the proposal that must come out of here is the process of removing money out of our politics. That has destroyed the fabric of our society. Listening to the President the other day, I liked the fact that this is a conversation many of us have had many times. He talked about the issue of harambees and presentation of resources. Perhaps it is time to ban it for us, as public officials, so that when I meet people, I tell them about policies that I have made to make their lives better and not Kshs2 million that I carry in my car to give them to build a classroom. That is a challenge we must be willing to accept. I must repeat this. Until we separate money from our politics and the space of influence, it will continue to be a gold rush and the desire on every Member. People do not know that the life of a politician in this country involves running from Monday to Thursday, collecting as much as you can, only to go and spend it from Friday to Sunday. In fact, most of that money does not even get to the houses of these Members. People do not know that. If a Member makes, for example, Kshs1 million within a week, they will be very lucky if Kshs100,000 makes it to do anything in their house. This is because a sum Kshs900,000 goes back to the constituents. Therefore, we must remove that demand and the desire to see Members of Parliament (MPs), politicians and people in public offices as if they are tools for pushing resources and money. That is just the effect. What we need to address here today is a structural fight. Those in the justice system and those involved in enforcing law and order must come The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}