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{
    "id": 1506752,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1506752/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 256,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Eldas, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Adan Keynan",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 41,
        "legal_name": "Adan Wehliye Keynan",
        "slug": "adan-keynan"
    },
    "content": " Hon. Speaker, Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. We have a country. The Sovereign Republic of Kenya was born out of sheer hard work of the great men and women who fought the colonialists. From their struggle, they have given us a Constitution that we have amended over the years; the latest being the August, 2010 Constitution. It is one of the most progressive constitutions in Africa. We are also lucky as a country that we do not go through militarism. We are spoiled because we have not seen the effects of military dictatorship that has engulfed other parts of Africa. The framers of the current Constitution were not fools when they equated sovereignty – and you are a seasoned lawyer – to representation. I want each one of us now to expand the horizon of our thinking. Why did the framers of the current Constitution equate representation to sovereignty? The reason is this. God ordains leadership. The fathers of democracy… You may remember those old days in Greece where people used to gather together all year to agree. Representative democracy is one of the most sought-after governance platforms in the world. The presidency has been criminalised. Offensive, malicious and capricious statements have been used against the President. Let us remember that we have a Head of State who doubles up as the Head of the Government. In our own definition, again, within the constitutional architecture, the Head of State and the Head of Government is one with three branches. Many people have interpreted this to mean that there are three different competing departments. No! We have one Head of State only. That is the person with the instruments of power to govern the sovereign Republic of Kenya. That is the President. Let us respect the President. Let us respect leadership. I ask my colleagues here to know that we are bashed because we have somehow failed. We need to put our foot down. The leadership should have sanctioned the newspaper that characterizes Members in very negative light for a budget that does not even exist. We have failed. The Speaker should have sanctioned that newspaper to either elaborate or apologise. We have not done it. We have allowed them to go away with a mistake. From what I have gathered, to the best of my recollection, there is no budget for Members. The budget alluded to is not even in the current budget. How will you be paid for something that is not budgeted? That was malicious. Equally, civility is not a sign of cowardice. Despite the fact that we have restrained ourselves, we also urge us to demand respect. Let us also ask our colleagues on the other side - whether in the church, trade activists, in the village - to know respect is two-way. The people have elected these Members graciously. The Members fought hard. Wait if you do not respect them. Luckily, our election cycle is time-bound. It is five years. Wait for 2027 if you think you are the most qualified woman, sheikh or bishop. You will present yourself to the electorate, get elected, and come to do what you think is right."
}