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{
    "id": 1625544,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625544/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 295,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wakili Sigei",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I equally want to support the Statement by Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale on the consequences of what was initially meant to be a very constitutionally protected right under Article 37 of the Constitution to demonstrate, picket and present petitions, which unfortunately, turned out to be a destructive experience which this country has previously not experienced. The Statement, which I believe once it is committed to the Committee, will seek to establish certain actions the Government intends to do or has done and also statistics on what the consequences became of those demonstrations, will again, seek to establish beyond the statement. This is because, whereas Article 37, as several others have said, entitles one to freely demonstrate, picket and present petitions, it equally gives that particular person a mandate and obligation in law to ensure that other people's rights, which are protected by the same Constitution, are not affected. Madam Temporary Speaker, this corresponding right has completely been thrown to the dogs. When you look at what transpired on the demonstrations of 25th and the ones on Saba Saba Day, they did not in any way resonate well with what the law requires of those organisers of the demonstrations as well as those who participated in them on that particular day. For instance, when you look at Saba Saba, that is something that we have had for a very long time, since the 1990s, before a good number of us were born. We have commemorated the day called Saba Saba and during all those demonstrations, we have not experienced the destruction of public or private property and the killings of innocent Kenyans and people who were not participating in the process before. For all this period, the commemoration equally has been confined to one rallying call required of that particular day to remember those who fought for this country to get multi-party democracy. Unfortunately, it was hijacked by the political class and those who were keen on destroying, stealing and killing. The statistics today which the Ministry of Interior and National Administration provided as to the value of the property that was lost, both public and private, is not anything to write home about. It is no longer demonstrations. It is very unfortunate that sometimes even Members of this House who have talked before 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."
}