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"speaker_name": "Maj. Sugow",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Public Service",
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"content": " Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I stand here to support this Adjournment Motion for several reasons. First of all, I would like to correct the impression created by some new hon. Members here that the only work of Members of Parliament is to legislate. It is not. We have a lot of other work out there. We have constituency funds and implementation of projects to oversee. At this time, we also have a responsibility to go out and start bonding Kenyans. The resettlement programme of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is going on. Sitting and debating in this House at this moment may not be very much suitable for Kenyans. So, it is important, especially for those of us who are hosting IDPs and also receiving them back in their constituencies, where they had earlier on been removed, to be present and create that goodwill that is necessary among Kenyans to receive each other and go back to normalcy. We, as leaders, have a responsibility for that and it is crucial that at this time we are with the rest of the wananchi Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are a few number of Bills that have been discussed just before we go for this recess. I would like to revisit an issue that is very emotive here. However, I have a different view from, probably, some of my colleagues in the Government. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I may not necessarily hold exactly the same view as those on the other side but, generally, I think it is of national interest that we look at the issue of democracy in the House with a clear perspective. Parliamentary democracy demands that there be an Opposition. We have to accept that reality. Although we have agreed under those special circumstances to create a Grand Coalition Government, that does not in any way negate the fact that we also need an Opposition. So, just as much as I am not going to say today that the same Members of Parliament, probably, coming from the parties that are forming Government should necessarily be the same Members again opposing it, somehow we have to find some regulatory framework to address this issue. We cannot just wish it away. I would like Members from both sides of the House to look at the national interests. Right May 14, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1047 now, this idea may not necessarily be popular with Kenyans because they want to look forward and also want this country to develop. Therefore, they may see this as mere politicking. If we go and seek opinion from the public, the idea of us debating the formation of a grand Opposition may not be popular. However, down the line, as another Member said sometime back, we are not necessarily saying that we may not go into the same kind of scenario in the future where we may have to form again another grand coalition. Are we going to remain without an Opposition forever in this country? No! We must, therefore, find a middle ground for creating some regulated Opposition in the House at all times and circumstances."
}