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"id": 174567,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Kabando wa Kabando",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports",
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"legal_name": "Kabando wa Kabando",
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"content": " Thank you Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity to rise and support this Motion for Adjournment. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, today offers a lot of refreshing mood for many of us, particularly given the history of involvement of many in this country, including the living and the departed, towards the new Constitution that has been sought for two decades. Therefore, the passing of the Motion to constitute the Select Committee and the previous Bills to jumpstart the making of the new Constitution is a very important stage towards national renewal and rebirth. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, while that has been celebrated and people are very optimistic of what is going to come out of the process that starts immediately upon this Committee being endorsed by this House, there are also important lessons that we have learnt. Among these lessons is the importance of consultations and inclusion. The experience of the last two weeks when parties have been consulting and when His Excellency the President and the Prime Minister have been consulting, have been very important moments. It has been important in asserting the authority of the House and also conceding ground so as to include issues and factors that are important for inclusive process. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if we lost inclusiveness, consultations, respect of diversity and legitimacy of the House, externally, there would have been a blemish. That would have affected the process. The legitimacy of the House is important as it shows the representation of the public. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the passing of the Motion to affirm the process of constitution making has also enabled us to re-focus the agenda of this country. A lot of resources have been lost in this country in pursuit of a new Constitution. I am happy because sitting in that Chair, I recall the days you have gone through yourself, the nights we have spent together with many other people composing a model Constitution and so many documentations that have been put in place in a bid to cause Kenya to refresh its governance structures. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we have lost a lot of resources and particularly if you recall the referendum; the energy, the public funds committed, the personnel, the exposure as to enable the public to harmoniously constitute the supreme law that will bring it to a stronger sovereignty and 4198 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES December 17, 2008 give devolution and strengthen other instruments that will enable the people of the Republic of Kenya to realise their fullest potential. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, given the abundance of the capital; intellectual and professionalism, in this country, the very fact that we have been struggling for nearly two decades to review our Constitution has cost quite some pain and loss. We have also lost a lot of lives. This cannot be forgotten. Many Kenyans, particularly young Kenyans in the countdown to the reintroduction of multiparty politics and beyond that is the struggle to get a new Constitution--- We remember even when the Budget Speech was stopped momentarily in this House. Having this process completed and giving Kenyans a new Constitution will also be honouring and respecting the spirit of those who have given their lives for this struggle. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is also the hope of many of us that the Parliamentary Select Committee will involve external consultations. We have confidence that it will, so that it can harvest from the very rich archives of the works that have been done externally in the civil society and in other professional groupings to enrich the work that will be produced. Finally, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we go on holiday, and while I wish all hon. Members a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, I just want to urge that we do involve our constituents in the process. That will enable them to have a greater confidence in us, as leaders. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir."
}