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{
"id": 197087,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/197087/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Prof. Ongeri",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Education",
"speaker": {
"id": 124,
"legal_name": "Samson Kegeo Ongeri",
"slug": "samson-ongeri"
},
"content": " Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. First and foremost, this Parliament has done itself proud for having fast-tracked very important Bills that form the basis upon which we must go back, adjourn and explain to our people what decisions have been collectively made in this House. The National Accord and Reconciliation Act is in itself a very enormous document. In it, there has been spelt out areas of action that need to be taken by hon. Members in preaching and creating harmony and togetherness for this nation to continue 414 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES March 25, 2008 living together. It is surprising that we want to express fear, instead of expressing confidence in the manner in which we have handled this situation in this Parliament. Secondly, we passed a constitutional Bill, which is now an Act of Parliament; amending Section 3A of our Constitution to allow for a Government of National Unity, or a Grand Coalition to be established. I do not think we want to give an impression to the outside world, or to our people, that all that we were struggling for, and while all these difficulties arose, is because we were waiting for the new Cabinet to be formed. We should give the two principals sufficient time to make extensive consultations in order to give us a Cabinet that will work within the spirit of national accord and reconciliation. I just visited one of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps yesterday. I spent a considerable period of time. The message I got, in tears, from both those who are displaced and even those who were accompanying us, was simple. The IDPs sang a very simple song: \" Hatutaki tena kwenda kwa shetani .\" The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) sang a very simple song: Hatutaki tena kurudi kwa ibilisi ! We do not want to go back to the devil. You could see tears trickling down their cheeks. I was so disturbed! I think what we now need to do, as hon. Members, is to move together. We need this adjournment so that we can go out--- Those who are within the boundaries of IDPS--- We now want to move together and tell our people that we have discussed these issues, we have agreed and this is the way we are going to move. I do not think we need to be here. We need that period to create reconciliation and support. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, a number of points have been made about education. Without belabouring the point, first of all, I think it is prudent to check our figures and facts clearly, before we start talking about the university degrees being awarded. There is a Commission for Higher Education that vets the credibility of any university that awards degrees. Therefore, that is a standard organisation and, as far as I know, our universities are at the top of the range to an extent that, even when our students pass the first degree, they are able to go for post-graduate degrees with ease and without any difficulties. Similarly, I want to assure this House that our secondary school graduates are able to secure admissions to foreign universities with ease. When a problem has arisen, let us tackle it in a transparent manner. We should not create a situation where people are hounded out of their jobs without proper investigations and a proper foundation being laid in order to deal with the problem at hand. I believe when the Cabinet is in place, the various House Committees will be formed to create the agenda for this House. Two weeks is not too long for that to be carried out. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to support the Motion that we adjourn for two and half weeks."
}