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"speaker_name": "Mr. Wamalwa",
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"legal_name": "Eugene Ludovic Wamalwa",
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"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we are coming to the end of a very difficult year and the greatest thing we can give Kenyans for Christmas is a gift of hope for a new Constitution. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we recall the way this year started. It was a very difficult year when we met here. However, there was that spirit that makes this nation great. It brought us together in spite of the differences that we had to put our country first. It is that spirit of consensus and compromise that led us to pass the National Accord into law. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is that spirit that I saw this afternoon. In the third Kamukunji, hon. Members were able to consult and agree on a very vital Bill. It is the same spirit of consensus and compromise that we are going to need in days ahead of us. This is because there are many challenges ahead of us! Today, we are dealing with only a few sections of our Constitution. However, if we can summon that spirit into the new year, I see ourselves delivering a new Constitution to this country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is something that we must be proud of as Members of the Tenth Parliament. Already, we have shown that this is a very pro-active Parliament. As I speak, we have passed Motions in this House touching on Sections 16 and 59 of the Constitution. We have actually wished to determine the calender of this House and sought to limit the number of Ministers. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, just seeing the differences that have been shown in the process through the year, we have noticed them. This reminds us of the great American Booker T. Washington who said that we might be as different as the fingers on our hands, but on matters of essential to the progress of the nation, we are one as the hand. We must always thrive for that. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have seen the effects of what we call a bloated Government. We have seen the differences displayed this afternoon. Indeed, it is a priority that we move forward to bring reforms to this Government through a constitutional review. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is very vital that we take into account the words of the Kriegler Commission. Indeed, the Kriegler Commission passed a verdict that condemned almost all institutions. Whether it was the media, the leadership of the country, the Judiciary or Parliament, we were all convicted. So, many people have asked, why is it that only one institution has to be dealt with at this time? Why is it that it is only the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK)? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when you look at the provisions of the Constitution of Kenya Review Act, you realise that under Sections 37, 38, 39 and 43, the ECK has a very important role to play in conducting the referendum through which Kenyans will ratify the end result of the constitutional review process. Therefore, we must have an ECK that will command the respect and trust of Kenyans so that the end product that will be the new Constitution that Kenyans have been waiting for two decades would be acceptable to all Kenyans. That is why we must deal with the ECK now. December 16, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 4141 I must thank my colleagues who were very sensitive to the plight of the ECK staff many of whom are worried as I speak. They do not know whether they will have Christmas this year. They do not know what will happen to their careers and their families. This Bill has been sensitive to that tea girl and driver who, perhaps, served tea this afternoon. As we make decisions in this House, that tea girl is out there innocent serving tea. We are very touched that, indeed, as we speak, we give hope to those subordinate staff who will not go home as a result of what we have passed in this House. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the issue of the review of constituency boundaries, I heard the Member of Parliament of Lamu East speaking of a population of 30,000 registered voters. In Saboti Constituency, the figure is 120,000. This is so yet when you look at the amount of Constituencies Development Funds (CDF) allocated to Saboti and Lamu East, you realise that the time for review of these boundaries is overdue. You will realise that some constituencies in Kenya are being shortchanged in terms of resources. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}