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{
"id": 1625136,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625136/?format=api",
"text_counter": 351,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Thang’wa",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I am not challenging, unless the Senate probably does not want us to mention the names of those people who work for Kenyans. Nevertheless, let me give my contribution. The issue of public and state officers branding public projects with their names and portraits is equally corrupt. This is because you are using public projects to promote yourself. I can give an example. In Zaire, there was a President by the name Mobutu Sese Seko. Mobutu Sese Seko changed everything to his name, from the airport, to the roads, to the schools. Actually, in that country, they were calling it Mobutuism because he used to name everything in his name. However, when he was overthrown in 1997, all those names were removed within a day and he was forgotten within a day. In Rwanda here, President Kagame, has refused to brand anything with any official's name. Even his portrait is not hung in schools or anywhere in businesses. Those are two Presidents we can see who are pulling from different sides. I remember very well, I requested for a statement that has never been responded to here. I requested to know how many schools or how many amenities or how many roads are named after the former Presidents of this country. I asked how many schools are named after Moi, Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta, Jomo Kenyatta, or even William Ruto himself. I have not received that, but this is the right time to discuss even that as we discuss this issue of branding. When we brand, it is self-promotion. You are promoting yourself using the taxpayer's money. I can give you a very good example. In Embu, a county that is in Mount Kenya, their only stadium is called Moi Stadium. Moi is not playing there. Why do we have a stadium in Embu that is called that President, that time? I believe it is a time, as we discuss this issue, we give people and their counties an opportunity to name those amenities, utilities and those projects the names that they would want. If you come to Kiambu County, we do not entertain that. We have Kirigiti Stadium, Thika Stadium, Ndumberi Stadium, the Githunguri Stadium, but not to name it after people and probably those people never did justice to the people. If it was a good person, if it was a martyr, if it was somebody who fought for freedom but not a President who for so many times probably really was not a good President, Governor, MP, MCA, Senator, or even Women Representative. If you look at the Constitution, which has been quoted by the Petitioner, Mr. Laban Omusundi, his argument is from Article 231 of the Constitution. It says- “(4) Notes and coins issued by the Central Bank of Kenya may bear images that depict or symbolise Kenya or an aspect of Kenya, but shall not bear the portrait of any individual.” 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."
}