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{
    "id": 196193,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/196193/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 135,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kenyatta",
    "speaker_title": "The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 168,
        "legal_name": "Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta",
        "slug": "uhuru-kenyatta"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the first thing that I want to say is that we need to do away with emotions as we debate this critical issue. We must, first and foremost, recognise that as we are debating in this House we are talking about the lives of many thousands, who do not even have shelter over their heads, yet the rainy season has begun. The issue of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) arose as a result of the contested, or disputed, results of the general election. Since then we have said that the IDPs cannot go back to their homes until the issue of electoral violence comes to an end. That has come to an end. We have said that the IDPs cannot go back to their homes until we have an all-inclusive Government. We have that Government. We have also said that we need to deal with the underlying issues and the historical injustices. So many other cliches have been used and have resulted in these IDPs being where they are. We have all agreed that these are issues that need to be tackled. Today, I stand to speak, not as a Minister, but as one of the 222 Members of Parliament 648 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 23, 2008 appealing to each and every single hon. Member, that we are talking about people's lives. All the issues that we have raised that need to be dealt with are going to be dealt with by none other than the 222 hon. Members in this House. Do we need to continue to see our own brothers and sisters, who brought us to this House, suffering because we cannot agree? We have heard that those people cannot go back to their homes without security. The truth of the matter is that no amount of security can replace a word from a leader in this House. The problem that we are facing is not one of insecurity, or a neighbour dismissing or disliking his or her neighbour. It is a problem of mistrust, which has been put between and amongst communities by none other than the leaders of this nation. The responsibility is not out there, but is with us. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I appeal to my colleagues that a time has come for us to say that this situation can no longer be entertained. A time has come for us to say that myself and Mr. Ruto can walk through the streets of Eldoret holding hands and telling our people to go back to their homes, and learn to trust one another. We are all Kenyans and the Constitution clearly states that a Kenyan has a right to live and do business in any part of this country. That is the only thing that is lacking. The people just want to see their leaders united, and not arguing or shouting at one another; they need to see their leaders talking to one another, agreeing to resolve the problems and the issues that they face. Yes, I agree that there are issues to be resolved, but those issues could be resolved while the poor farmers return to their homes and the children who have been missing out in schools are back to their schools and living normal lives. The problems are not theirs to solve but are ours to resolve. As I said, it is not a question of a blame game, or of who is right or wrong. It is a question of us, as the elected representatives of the people of the Republic of Kenya, going out there and ensuring that our people return to their homes and enjoy normalcy as we deal with the problems that face them, which resulted in them being where they are. With those remarks, I beg to support."
}