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{
    "id": 1519192,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1519192/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 401,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "If you were not a candidate in that particular exercise competing with them, the least you can do is to look away if you do not like that particular person. At the very worst, at least just keep quiet. If you are a patriot, take time to celebrate them and lend your support, but not to do the kind of things we saw being done. When the former Prime Minister was touring African countries, there were people who posted pictures. When the President had dinner with the former Prime Minister of Kenya, hon. Raila Odinga, you go to the comments sections, you find that Kenyans are more than citizens of that particular country. We export stupid tribal politics all the way to the international stage. You will find leaders in this House trying to justify that people should be allowed to express themselves. Express what, ignorance? Leadership also involves telling people that this is not right or that we do not agree with you in this particular issue. Why are you a leader then? I thought that as a leader, part of your duty is also to show the way in certain matters that you are well prepared for. I appreciate those who understood the spirit of this Motion. They took their time to critically evaluate and celebrate that a prominent and eminent Kenyan who gave a good account of himself on the international stage. This is because now people know better about Kenya and our credentials. I did mention that it is okay for people to have their opinion. However, the most ignorant of the lot are the ones who have tried to reduce this conversation to about evaluation of President William Ruto. He was not a candidate there. The former Prime Minister Raila Odinga himself said on the night of 15th February, 2025, that there is nothing that the Government of Kenya, led by President William Ruto, withheld in terms of support for his candidature. He appreciated that. So, who else can come here and tell us this or that was not done right, or this should have been this or the other way, if the candidate himself appreciates that the country did everything that was humanly possible? We ended up losing because elections are what they are. Sometimes people choose not to see or appreciate issues the way you perceive them. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, let it go on record that this House appreciated the decent run and the good presentation of this eminent Kenyan at the international stage. There are lessons that the country has learnt. In future, because there will be other Kenyans showing up at the international stage looking for employment opportunities in global institutions such as the United Nations (UN), there are things we can do better as a country. I want to appreciate the seconder of this Motion, Sen. M. Kajwang’. It is he who reminded us that with this negative energy, very soon, we will transfer it to matters like sports, things which ordinarily have always united us. When Harambee Stars is playing and there is a certain player you do not like, you will find people cheering the other country or wishing ill fate for our own team. We must snip it at the bud while it is still early and tell each other. The other day, we laid to rest after celebrating the veteran journalist, Leonard Mambo Mbotela. On such matters, he would ask; “ Je, huu ni ungwana ?” Is it really decent for us to continue doing this kind of things? 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."
}