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{
"id": 1582605,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1582605/?format=api",
"text_counter": 591,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Molo, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Kuria Kimani",
"speaker": null,
"content": "We know the financiers of those demonstrations. For instance, a Member of County Assembly (MCA) in my constituency, who is a failure, was paying people yesterday to demonstrate. Even at the national level, we know the people who funded those demonstrations. It is clear target. Anybody in this Government, especially those who speak my vernacular language and support President Ruto’s Administration, were a target. That is why my home, Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah, Hon. Eric Wamumbi and the Member for Mathira homes were targeted. Also, the businesses of Hon. Chege Njuguna, the Member for Kandara, were targeted. At what cost? If we really want the change, then wait for the ballot. You will have the constitutional right to exercise by voting for the candidate of your choice. All of us had careers before joining politics. There are many people who are not politicians who still have careers. You do not have to threaten and destroy us because of differences in political ideologies. I call upon the new opposition leader to learn how opposition function is executed. Stop targeting innocent and hardworking young Kenyans. Stop using our sons and daughters to loot properties. I had a discussion today with some Members during the Presidential assent to some Bills this morning. It was an interesting observation. For the first time, demonstrators were coming from Thika Road and Kiambu Road. However, along Lang’ata Road and other usual hotspots where demonstrations used to originate, it was peaceful. The people who have lost the most in all those demonstrations are business owners on River Road and Tom Mboya Street. I appeal to my people. It does not matter the aggression and grievances they have, but they have a constitutional right to use them at the ballot. What we are doing now is shooting ourselves in the feet. The rest of the country is watching and laughing at us. It is unfortunate. Hon. Temporary Speaker, in your wisdom in this House, I do not know what you are going to do, but this cannot be allowed to continue. How justifiable is burning down a police station in the name of human rights? It becomes the very same thing you are accusing the police of doing. If the accusation is that the police used excessive force, how then do you turn around and justify burning a public installation? You claim it is within your rights to burn a police station because someone was killed there. But within that police station, officers live with their families - fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters. When the station is set ablaze, are they not affected? Are they not human? When one comes to burn Parliament, it is not only Members of Parliament who work in this House. There are thousands of innocent and dedicated staff - lawyers, economists, police officers and public servants across all sectors who serve the National Assembly. Now the threat is to burn them as well? I do not wish to go further than that. I believe this House must stand up for the rule of law, even while protecting the rights of protesters. As citizens exercise their democratic rights, we must not permit supermarkets to be looted, businesses to be destroyed or lives to be lost. It is not fair. Last year, I lost more than 10,000 chickens and three vehicles. My house was vandalised. We lived in fear for weeks. This affected Members across the divide, regardless of how they voted or what position they took. In the name of what? It is becoming extremely painful to fulfil our duties as politicians. Yet, we also have our careers. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I know you are a respected lawyer. I am a Master's graduate, a PhD student and a Certified Public Accountant. I have a future beyond politics. But if it is going to be this painfully expensive to serve, then where are we heading to as a country? Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker."
}