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{
    "id": 1519587,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1519587/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 342,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wambua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13199,
        "legal_name": "Enoch Kiio Wambua",
        "slug": "enoch-kiio-wambua"
    },
    "content": "I want to begin by saying that this is an important debate, which was moved very well by the Senate Majority Leader. However, when the debate began, then I wondered what happened between the time when he moved the Motion and when the debate began. From one side of his mouth, he said that he would want to listen to opinions and views from Members on where we may have gone wrong and lost this seat. On the other side of his mouth, he is insisting that we got it right. I wonder then what are we going to be debating. Having said that, I want to begin by thanking His Excellency the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga for offering himself to vie for this continental seat. The decision to offer himself in itself was a true demonstration of courage and the spirit of Pan-Africanism. I like and envy the energy of His Excellency Raila Amolo Odinga. He was able to move to every corner of the continent to convince presidents and heads of government to support his bid. That energy was enviable. What really touched my heart was the fact that His Excellency Raila Amolo Odinga kept his cool throughout this process. From the campaigns, even to the election date and the announcement of the results, our leader kept his cool. I remember some people think that they are closer to these leaders than some of us. I want to disabuse that notion. Before the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga went to Addis Ababa for the election, I spoke to him on Tuesday. He was very clear in his mind what he was going to be doing. To me, the words that ring in my mind to date are that: “If I win, I win. If I lose, I lose. Whether I win or I lose, I am a Kenyan, I am a pan-Africanist.” That is courage beyond measure. I want to congratulate him for having the courage to go for the seat. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, when Hon. Raila went for this position, it was not about him. It was not about his party or his coalition. It was about Africa. It was about carrying the Kenyan flag highly on the African scene. His Excellency Raila did not disappoint. He carried the flag of our Republic on the continental scene and did the best that he could. We want to congratulate him. We also want to thank the presidents who voted for him. Garnering 22 votes throughout, I think three or four election cycles is not a simple feat. We want to thank the presidents who had faith in his leadership and voted for him. There is another notion that I want to debunk on the Floor of the Senate. People say that His Excellency Raila does not accept defeat. His Excellency himself conceded defeat on the Floor of the Mandela House during this election. What I want to say to those people who say that Raila does not accept or concede defeat is that if he loses fairly, he will accept as he did in Addis Ababa. If he loses unfairly, he will contest that election. He has done that before, and for that courage, I also want to thank and congratulate him. Kenya may have lost the election. We may not have brought the African seat home. However, I want to say that to a very great extent, as a country, we won our space on the African Continent. Let us continue, as much as we can, to be the pride of the region. Let me also congratulate the winner of the election, Mahmoud Youssuf, and wish him well. We shall leave to fight this battle another day."
}