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"speaker_name": "Mr. Imanyara",
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"content": "Thank you Mr. Speaker, Sir. In supporting this Motion of adjournment, let me also take this opportunity on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Central Imenti to send our condolences to the Members of the Tenth Parliament for losing two gallant colleagues, the leadership of ODM for losing two very gallant fighters for reforms in this country, and to the President of this Republic for losing a Cabinet Minister and an Assistant Minister. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am also speaking on behalf of my good friend, Mr. James Orengo, with whom I sat for many hours late into the night when attempts to cut short Mr. Kipkalya Kones's parliamentary career were made. We deviced legal ways of challenging those attempts in courts, and to support Mr. Kipkalya Kones. We did not see him as a client. We saw him as a fighter, not only for the people of the greater Kericho region, but for all Kenyans wherever they were. Whenever I had the opportunity to join hon. Orengo in the High Court or Court of the Appeal, we always made it very clear that Mr. Kipkalya Kones stood for far more than the area he represented. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I got to know Ms. Lorna Laboso before she became a Member of Parliament when we were struggling to get into this House. On occasions we were unsuccessful. What struck me most about her was not only her courage but also her willingness to stand up for a cause. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the history of this House is replete with examples of many men and women who, knowing that wrongs were being committed, sat low. Mr. Kipkalya Kones and Ms. Lorna Laboso would never never sit still when a wrong was being committed by the mighty and powerful. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I had an occasion to accompany Mr. Kipkalya Kones to his constituency for a fundraising mission when I worked with him in Ford(P) for a short period. I know of the attempts made by the Provincial Adminstration to prevent us from addressing a public function to raise funds for a needy medical case. Even with that smile that we will always remember him with, he stood firm. He laughed loudly but he stood firm and said: \"We are not moving. Go and tell Mr. Moi that we are here to raise funds for a needy child.\" Mr. Speaker, Sir, one prays and wishes that the sentiments going out to the people of Kenya from this House, united as we are, speaking as Kenyans, can reach all the constituencies today that are holding by-elections; that, in honour of those two great Kenyans, let the voting be peaceful. Let the best man or woman win the by-elections. Let us not shed any more blood, whether by accident or design, in the name of politics. I associate myself fully with those calling for an audit of the honourable Members of this House who have lost their lives in the early stages of the parliamentary sessions, so that the people of Kenya can rest assured that whenever the representatives of people go out to their constituencies, June 11, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1127 whether by road or air, adequate security measures for their safety are taken. That is because they represent ordinary men and women of this country. We would like to see that taken seriously, so that we do not speak about it only on occasions when we mourn as we do today. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to support this Motion."
}