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{
    "id": 174461,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/174461/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 58,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Abdirahman",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 161,
        "legal_name": "Abdirahman Ali Hassan",
        "slug": "abdirahman-ali-hassan"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I stand to support this very important Motion alongside other hon. Members who have done so. I want to make a few comments. Many hon. Members who spoke before me yesterday said constitution making is a very important process. There is something which people have kept on telling us from last week. They have been talking about consensus. We know what consensus is all about. We cannot get consensus unless we narrow our differences. For the second time running, it is unfortunate that the leadership of this country, particularly those of us who were involved in the 2003-2005 constitution review process, in which we lost during the referendum, are not able to identify the pitfalls. This is mainly because we are not able to provide leadership. Mr. Speaker, Sir, if just the constitution of the Parliamentary Select Committee alone could give us all these problems since yesterday and today, how can we, as Parliament, be able to steer the rest of the process? Kenyans expect a lot from this House. Since yesterday, the main problem has been the inability by the party leadership to consult among themselves and follow the House's procedures. We have had a House Business Committee. If there were sufficient consultations, we could not have had the problems we got. Personally, I feel that we should still have been able to bridge the gap between what Dr. Khalwale had raised and the initial list. These are simple issues. We do not have to fight over small issues and make this country suffer. December 17, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 4171 What is coming into play is basically the personal egos between individuals in this House. That should be put aside. We must address the interests of Kenyans. We must address what can bring us together only and avoid what can divide us. If we really want to help this country, the top leadership should not take the Back Benchers for granted. A few of my colleagues said that they are professional Assistant Ministers. I have been an Assistant Minister myself. Whether you are an Assistant Minister or a Back Bencher or a Minister, we all have equal rights and equal abilities - probably, some Back Benchers have even better abilities - to be able to provide something useful for this country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I, therefore, plead with my colleagues that we tone down and come together, so that we can speak in one voice, as Parliament, which represents Kenyans and all regions for that matter. Thank you very much."
}