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"id": 197056,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Kabando wa Kabando",
"speaker_title": "The Member for Mukurweini",
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"legal_name": "Kabando wa Kabando",
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Motion of Adjournment. I am very happy, indeed. I would like, before making my contribution, to take the opportunity to thank the Almighty God and the people of Mukurweini for giving me the mandate to serve them. I also wish to take the opportunity to salute the substantive Speaker who was elected in a very tense environment and controversial time; but who has emerged to become moderate and lead this House to another level. Indeed, as my colleague, the hon. Member for Eldoret East, stated, it was a time to behold, as we sat among 150 parliamentarians from the African Caribbean Pacific and the European Union and hearing very kind words about this House and particularly about the Speaker. I would also wish to congratulate the Deputy Speaker for recapturing his Lagdera seat and also on his election to deputise in the House. Indeed, some of us are very happy. I also wish to congratulate the old Members. There was a \"guillotine\" in December! What happened in this country was unprecedented. Many old Members were sent home. Those who came back, indeed, did so because they deserved it. Those who managed to return to this House made it because they had done something special for their constituents. But most importantly, I would like to salute the fresh men and women in this House. There are nearly 70 per cent new Members who made it to this House. Most importantly, I would like to salute the fresh men and women in this House. For the nearly 70 per cent who made it to this House as new Members, it is a golden opportunity to refresh the legislative agenda of the Republic of Kenya. However, it is the greatest risk that we, new Members, have taken. As a political class, we may not be in tandem with the aspirations of the people of this Republic. Therefore, the opportunity that we have been accorded must be commensurate with the achievements that we will attain in this House, particularly in the management of the resources that are allocated to our constituencies, and more so the devolved funds that include the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF). Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the opportunity to adjourn for two weeks will allow us to reflect on very crucial issues. As stated in the Presidential Address, there are a few Bills that are pending before the House. I recall that for over four years, working in the tourism sector, we tried to get the Tourism Bill to be passed, but we were unable to have it pushed through even by the relevant committee. March 25, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 407 Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, coffee has been mentioned here and overseas, as a very special agricultural product, yet it is the market that re-brands and makes it its own while our farmers walk barefoot. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have an opportunity, in the next two weeks, as we go out to connect, for those who are fresh, and re-connect for those who are old, with the people and reflect on what we want to put in. It also gives us an opportunity to know what kind of committees we want to form in this House. We have heard stories that House committees have been constituted as a way of rewarding hon. Members. It is an opportunity for us to bond as one House to see what experience and talent we are going to put to the Departmental Committees, Select Committees and watchdog Committees, so that they become movers and shapers of the agenda that will be brought to this House. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I finish, we as hon. Members, should not belong to any tribe. In fact, we should be very ashamed to even mention the word \"tribe\". If you look at the simplest dictionary, it describes tribe as a primitive grouping of people. These are people who have no civility and do not deserve to belong to the civilised communities of nations. Ethnicity is referred to when talking about other areas. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank you and I am happy to serve in this house. God bless you."
}