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{
    "id": 184908,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/184908/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 190,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Nyambati",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 116,
        "legal_name": "Walter Enock Osebe Nyambati",
        "slug": "walter-nyambati"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for the opportunity. I stand here to also support this Motion. I want to say that it is a pity that we are copying too much from the western world. We must go back into history and realise that the elders over the years had done a lot to bring peace and stability in our own systems. We must understand that the work that these elders do even now is great and enormous. It is time we appreciated and recognised them because without them we may not live cohesively the way we do. Its no wonder the kind of authority that they have is immense. These elders are respected among our communities, villages and amongst our people. It is time we gave them a chance to exercise their influence. In order to do so, we must find a way to thank them in terms of monetary gain; whether it is allowances, salaries or anything. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want us to go back to the beginning of the year when we had a lot of problems. If we had these organised people in our communities, they could have done a lot to bring peace. They can even interact from one community or tribe to another. So, I think it is very important. This is a timely Motion. We should not sweep it under the carpet. I think it is important that the Government takes this issue very seriously. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Mover of this Motion, Mr. Wamalwa, for bringing it up. We all should support it because we all come from an African set up and we understand the kind of role our elders play. It is even upon us as Members of Parliament that when your father tells you something, you listen. That is the kind of system that we must instal in this country. We must go back to this and support it if we really intend to have a community that works together. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, these elders can also be used a lot in terms of mobilising resources when we want to do anything in either our schools or any other community project. They can also be used to solve some small cases which otherwise do not have to go before courts of law. This can be done amicably within our villages and communities so that Kenyans can now begin to live together as one people. So, I strongly support this Motion. I want to say that the Government should take it seriously. I also want to say that it is about time that the Government Ministers took the affairs of this House seriously. It is a pity that we debate a Motion and there is no Government Minister listening to what we are saying. So, it is just like we are just making noise to ourselves and this is not fair to Members of Parliament. So, I suggest that this House finds a way of penalising Ministers who do not come to this House. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}