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{
    "id": 194314,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/194314/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 253,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Midiwo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 184,
        "legal_name": "Washington Jakoyo Midiwo",
        "slug": "jakoyo-midiwo"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to support this Motion of Adjournment and say a few things about it. I want to start by saying that I hope that the Executive, as it were, is taking note of what is happening here. I think the people who are opposing this Motion have something to take note of because these are extraordinary times in this country and we need to take note. It is my contention that the people opposing this Motion do not just want to be here. There are even a few who always just make technical appearances. I do not think they need this place. They are opposing it for another reason which the Executive must take note of. Since ODM and PNU have signed a pact to work together, we want the Executive to go out of its way to make sure that there is a policy that we can towards as a Parliament. We have been told that we are going to bring together the manifestos of ODM and PNU so that we can read from the same script. So far, I believe, that the Government should use the one-month recess to work particularly on the manifesto which we want to use to rule this country for the time of the Grand Coalition. As it were, there are hon. Members who are just talking about a Motion or a Bill but the Government does not work like that. The Government needs time to tell Kenyans what it needs to do for Kenya. When PNU was campaigning, it was saying other things and ODM was also saying other things. A government is not a machine! Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Government needs time with the experts and negotiating partners, so that we can tell Kenyans that amidst all that, the alternative is where we have come from. Many Kenyans endorsed that we need to work together and tell them what we want to do for this period of time for the people of this country. Kenyans are looking up to us to do that. I have seen many hon. Members who are opposing these things, but in the real sense where they come from was not even affected by the skirmishes. The things people went through, they need to be given direction. They need to be shown the face of unity once and for all, as the Government sorts itself out. I have been of the opinion over the last couple of weeks--- After the Parliamentary Committees were formed, the public and the civil society raised questions about the future of some 1072 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES May 14, 2008 Committees. After we come back, we should use our privileges to make sure that the workings of the watchdog Committees are open to the Press immediately. Nothing stops us from doing that, so that people can see that Parliament is working, and for the hon. Members to get an opportunity to check the Government. The Speaker would understand that somebody wants to check the Government if they came here with a Question which says: \"What is happening in Grand Regency Hotel saga?\" or \"What is happening in various Government institutions which may have been plundered?\" That is watching the Government and not just being in the Opposition for the sake of it. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the law still allows for an Opposition. You made a ruling that Mr. Jirongo and his party were the Opposition. So, hon. Members are free to cross the Floor and go and contest elections on his party's ticket; they will then form the Opposition, if they raise the requisite numbers. So, the issue of the Grand Coalition Opposition is holding this country back. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we, in our political parties, need to come together, have joint parliamentary group meetings and tell Kenyans what they need to hear, which is that we are ready to work together for the betterment of this country. For a change, Parliament can do that. For the information of new hon. Members, the same Press, which carries microphones around you every morning, is the same one which will destroy you before Christmas. The moment you realise that you are all talk, you will be destroyed and will never know what hit you. You will never even know where the rain began to beat you. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, lastly, I want to echo the words of Mr. Gumo. The Government needs to have an approach. We know where, in our villages, the police killed people, and people have been arrested and are languishing in prison and do not know how to come out. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}