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"id": 186332,
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"speaker_name": "Prof. Olweny",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Education",
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"legal_name": "Patrick Ayiecho Olweny",
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"content": "gave us the Bomas Draft which we are going to benefit from. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the failure of the previous Parliaments to give Kenyans a new Constitution, according to me, is responsible for what we saw early this year after elections. Had we given Kenyans a Constitution--- Had Kenyans given themselves a Constitution they wanted, I do not think we could have had what we had this year. I do not think we could have lost lives. I do not think property could have been destroyed if they had used the opportunity well. But we have it again today, thank God. In the drafts that we already have there are things which could not allow them to be turned into a Constitution. These are the so-called \"contentious issues\". As hon. Members have said, we know all those contentious issues. These are issues relating to land and devolution of power which has been achieved today to some extent. That was one of the major issues that we have achieved today. I do not see some people losing out seriously because we have the position of the Prime Minister in this country. What do I lose if a Kenyan has a wife and that wife is given Kenyan citizenship? What does a Kenyan lose if a Kenyan is married to an American and the American is given citizenship? What do we lose? It is done in other countries. Some of these were issues that made the Bomas efforts fail. I feel that there are things that should not make Kenyans kill one another. If they are the issues which were contentious and made the Bomas Draft, the Kilifi Draft, the Wako Draft and the Naivasha Draft fail, is it really justified that we kill one another? Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, if you look at the Bill, I am happy that the Minister and experts in the Ministry pointed out that the Committee of Experts will address the contentious issues that we have in the drafts that have already been made in this country. That will be one of the shortest ways of solving the problems that have prevented Kenyans from getting a Constitution that they have always longed for. We know the contentious issues but, unfortunately, Kenyans are very good at changing goal posts. They are very good at changing positions. You may come up with some solutions to some of the problems then you find a group of people calling themselves the civil society or a religious group that says, \"No, we want this\". This time I think we better call a spade a spade. Instead of changing goal posts, confusing Kenyans, saying we want Wanjiku in this, saying no Wanjiku cannot do it--- Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, if you look at the qualifications that have been proposed for these people, I am happy with them. It is a very good proposal because it will beat the crowd. It still represents the kind of crowd that we had in Bomas of Kenya. However, it beats these people who always come up with all kinds of arguments, for example: \"We also want to be represented because our religion is not there. My community is not there and my clan is not taken care of.\" My view is that we would rather have experts doing this job rather than a crowd. We know that a crowd is so difficult to handle. As politicians, we know that dealing with a crowd that is in front of you is difficult. We had that experience in Bomas of Kenya. So, Clause 8 serves us well with regard to appointing the group to help in handling this issue of coming up with a comprehensive review and a draft that will serve our interests. 2420 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES August 6, 2008 That will also help us in saving costs. The Bomas of Kenya approach was the most expensive approach the country could have wanted to write a Constitution. It was very expensive. We had the conference for a whole year. The amount of money that this country spend on that, followed by money that was spend during the referendum was not fair to the taxpayers of this country. We spend all that money, but ended up with no Constitution. We then led Kenyans to the crisis that we had early this year. The small group will handle this thing professionally and then bring it back to this House. It will be the cheapest and most efficient approach according to me. It will shorten the period. After all, we have been told that in a year, this can be done. Madam Temporary Speaker, the way this Bill is drafted and the way the process here has been indicated, I am sure it can take a year or less. It will shorten the period and save on the money and unnecessary arguments that come with a crowd. Kenyans are always good in making all kinds of arguments. If you give bring them together and give them the opportunity, instead of helping you out, they just drag you down. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the most important thing is Clause 14. This Committee must be independent as indicated there. If other people are going to impress them, then we shall still end up with problems."
}