GET /api/v0.1/hansard/entries/157284/?format=api
HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 157284,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/157284/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 357,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, sometimes it takes time for us to get used to the fact that live coverage is not an opportunity to play to the national gallery. We still have to contain ourselves to the precincts of this House in terms of how we address ourselves to issues. Sometimes I feel like the Chair is still in transition from full debate to basically being a Chair. I believe that time will come when we will definitely realise that we are not addressing for the purpose of impressing but we address to be sure that it is contained within our own Standing Orders and Constitution. I want to focus on three things. One of them, unfortunately, has been repeated over and over. This has to do with the unity of the Coalition Government. I did not intend to repeat this except that it is coming up now and then. The Grand Coalition Government is not living the unity that is supposed to be. We speak unity when it is convenient for us and speak disunity when it is not convenient for us. I believe this addresses the root of our manners and best behaviour. William Wilberforce, a Member of Parliament like you and myself, early last century was known for two things. We remember him for the abolition of slavery and slave trade. However, there is something else that he set out to do that we must remember. He said that the second objective he had was to reform manners. I believe that it is about time we went ahead to reform manners and mannerisms of leaders so that it is not convenient to do one thing or say one thing when you want it for yourself and then say another thing altogether when it is not convenient for you. I think we must state whether we are for unity or not. I believe this confusion has put the country in such a state of expectation that even when the Speaker was going to rule on who will be the Leader of Government Business, the whole country came to a stand still. This is because Kenyans are not sure whether we are for unity or disunity. I believe that the manners of leaders should be addressed. That is the way we stand to be counted. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is not correct for hon. Members to read this Motion and begin to criticize it. This is because the Motion before the House states:- “THAT, the thanks of this House be recorded for the exposition of public policy contained in His Excellency’s Presidential Address from the Chair.” Basically, what the Government does is to set a menu of policies for us to debate. It is, therefore, not proper for me to come and say, “The President fell short”. The policies contained in the Speech have been set for you to address. So, do your research and address yourself to those policies. In fact, I may add that because of the mannerisms that I have talked about, even Cabinet Ministers criticize the President’s Speech. Where on earth have you heard that? Where on earth can a Minister criticize the President’s Speech? It is not allowed. That is why I am talking about our manners. We must basically change. If I am not satisfied with what the President has said, I cannot, as a Minister, stand here and say it was wrong or it fell short. I cannot do that! This is what this Government must come out of. The people out there looking at us want us to be respected. We must bring forth the best out of ourselves. When people just stand for the sake of it and say they criticize, what are they criticizing? In the last State Opening, a particular set of policies was set for us to debate. This time they cannot repeat what was there at that time. The Government has chosen a few that we debate and, therefore, let us debate those. Our thanks must be recorded that the President in his Speech gave us policies and priorities that the Government has to debate. That is the way this used to be done."
}