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{
    "id": 193563,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/193563/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 25,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Farah",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 16,
        "legal_name": "Farah Maalim Mohamed",
        "slug": "farah-maalim"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to support the Motion of adjournment. Two things that 1122 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 11, 2008 come to mind when I think about the late Mr. Kones--- I have known him for about 15 years now. I knew him when we sat in opposite sides of the House. The Prime Minister has ably described him, about two things: He was courageous; he had the courage of a lion and the will of a principal. When he believed in something, it did not matter whether the rest of Parliamentarians thought otherwise; he stood by it. It did not matter whether the President was against him at that time, even if they belonged to the same party. I remember Mr. Kones standing up to the same regime that he served as a Minister. He stood up hard and firm for the principles he believed in. I served with him also in my previous party. He was the Chairman of FORD(P) and I was the Secretary-General. I also remember that he was a firm man. He was also a nationalist. When he served as a Minister in the Office of the President in charge of special programmes and drought recovery in those days he literally slept, walked and drove in every corner of North Eastern Province to see the plight of the people there. He took food to the hungry there. The man was a nationalist. I remember at one time that although we were in opposite sides, we were very close. I had a problem with the system and he had the courage to go to the former President and tell him that I was right in pushing for a national agenda that was in the interests of Kenyans, and that I should be supported. The President went ahead and instructed that the students whose admission to various institutions I was trying to push for should be admitted to those institutions; it did not matter that I was member of the Opposition. I have a very heavy heart. I have lost a friend, a brother and a colleague of many years. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have also known the late Ms. Laboso. She was a tigress, as she was ably described. She has been a close friend of the late Mr. Kones. They have been together in politics and have shared a lot of good ideas. I had the opportunity and the chance and privilege to participate in some of their debates and get-togethers, both in Bomet and in Nairobi. The nation has lost two very able Kenyans and leaders, who were at the prime of their lives. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I think the nation has lost two very able Kenyans and leaders who were at the prime of their lives. This should serve as a reflection to Kenyans, as the Prime Minister has said. We need to reflect back. We need to look at many things in this country and see how we can use this opportunity to heal this country and bring it together because the late Minister believed in bringing the country together. He visited me in my office of the Deputy Speaker here on a number of occasions and every time it was how we can move forward, develop this country and deliver services that Kenyans badly need, and how can we can develop this country without taking a lot of time in this partisan politics. He agonised very much over the things that seem to bedevil our country in terms of issues of power and power games. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I think, it is befitting to his own memory if from this moment we dedicate ourselves to bringing this country together. This is what this country needs more than anything else. This country does not need a Government that is talking at cross purposes. This country needs a Government that works together and treats this country as one nation, a Government that is nationalistic, devoid of tribalism and all the other ills that divide us. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in honour of the late hon. Kones and the late hon. Laboso, we need to come together and use this as the turning moment. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to support this Motion."
}