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{
    "id": 186343,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/186343/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 251,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kioni",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 49,
        "legal_name": "Jeremiah Ngayu Kioni",
        "slug": "jeremiah-kioni"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. May I also join other hon. Members in saying a big thank you to the team that sat at the Serena Hotel, and the thoughts that came from the Team of Eminent African Personalities that helped us get through this process. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, very quickly, again, the issue of Constitution making, to us, is not new. We have talked about this issue over and over again. But as many hon. Members have suggested, it is incumbent upon Members of Parliament, because they are the political leaders in this country to, actually, wholly own this process and carry on with it honestly. Otherwise, we will find ourselves in difficulties like it has happened in the past. It may be easier this time round because of the arrangement that we are currently in. But it is also crucial to note that virtually all the parties that were on the campaign trail promised to deliver a new Constitution to this country. The Tenth Parliament must seize this opportunity quickly because there is some urgency. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I may not have a lot of time to say many of the things that I wanted to say but, a quick one is on Section 6 Paragraph 4(a), which has been mentioned here. It talks about having three individuals appointed by the Panel of Eminent African Personalities. I have difficulties with that requirement because the Constitution is meant for us and we should own it. We do not need foreigners to come and tell us how to live together. Again, we cannot continue giving legitimacy to that group forever. We need to have an end to it and be able to govern ourselves. We invited them because of a disorder and I think we have some order now. We can be able to move on without them. Part \"b\" of that section talks about four Kenyan citizens being nominated by the Parliamentary Select Committee. When you go on to the following page - page 1169 - part \"c\" says:- \"with respect to persons nominated under subsection 4(b), Kenya's national character and diversity will be taken into account\". Given our current way of thinking, I do not know how four individuals will be taken to represent the character and diversity of Kenyans because we have reached a point where we think that unless one from my own tribe is on that Board, then Kenya is not represented on it. That is something that is going to be very difficult to convince Kenyans. Perhaps, we need to think about it before we 2426 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES August 6, 2008 think that people will just take it if their own people are not included in that Committee. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, over the page at---"
}