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"speaker_name": "Prof. Maathai",
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"legal_name": "Wangari Muta Maathai",
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"content": "1360 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES May 16, 2007 In many ways, what we need to practise now in East Africa, is good governance. Good governance must be characterised by our willingness to respect the rule of law. If we do not respect the rule of law because we want to benefit, it will demonstrate that we really do not believe in good governance; that we just mention those words. That, those words are not important in our hearts. They are just words we say because we can hoodwink people when we say:- \"We are practising good governance. We are respecting the rule of law. We are working for the common good of the people\" but we do not mean it. We just talk because people get hoodwinked. However, it is when we are challenged--- At a time like this when we are challenged, that is when we must really demonstrate that we believe in good governance and the rule of the law. I think that as Africans, we are not only working towards a united East Africa but we are also working towards a united Africa. If we are going to succeed, the biggest challenge will be: Can we respect the rule of law? If we, in East Africa, will not respect a constitution that is agreed on by the Africans and we decide that as East Africans, we do not want to respect that rule because it does not benefit us, then there is no reason why the South, West or North Africans should respect the rule when it does not benefit them. So, I really think that it is extremely important that as we build East Africa, which is going to be a block for a united Africa, from the beginning, we need to entrench a culture of respecting the rule of law. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, unity cannot come if we feel that we are being taken for granted, we are not respected and if we feel that our opinion is not respected. I want to appeal that even though the dream of NARC is not the complete dream that we had when we formed it, that at this time, we respect that what is the rule of law is that the Government in place is the Government of NARC; and that, that Government is the one that must send--- As a party, it is the one that must identify the members of the East African Legislative Assembly and that we have a right, as a Parliament, to play our role as we are expected. If we do not do this, we shall be perceived as people who are not honest. We shall be perceived as people who are selfish. I think that will be a very bad beginning for a strong East African Community (EAC), and eventually, may be an East African Political Federation. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think it is extremely important for our neighbours; Uganda and Tanzania and any other neighbouring countries who want to join the EAC, to know, from the very beginning, that Kenyans are people who respect the rule of law, that Kenyans are people who believe in good governance and their leaders are responsible and accountable to Kenyans. In other words, the Kenyan leaders. We, in this Parliament, are the voice and the face of Kenyans. We will be ashamed if Kenyans were to be perceived as people who do not respect the rule of law, people who do not do what they say they will do and people who do not respect the opinion of other people. This is because, as we speak in this House, we speak on behalf of the 30 million or so Kenyans. It is very important to note that when I speak here, I speak on behalf of many Kenyans. If I am perceived, as a leader, to be dishonest, then people will perceive Kenyans as being dishonest when, in fact, it is only one or two people who may not be honest. So, it is very important for us to demonstrate, as the Kenyan Parliament or leaders, that we are people who are honest, responsible and accountable to our people because that is what will eventually make Kenyans, in general, be respected by the rest of the East Africans and, indeed, the rest of Africa and the World. It is very important for us to entrench this culture. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I stand here to commend this desire to say what is, probably, obvious; that is, whatever this Parliament is supposed to do on behalf of Kenyans, it should be allowed to do it. As the Minister for East African Community goes about his business, he does so on behalf of Kenyans, this Parliament and our Government. I would, therefore, want to strongly May 16, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1361 support that any amendment to any laws that are made for the EAC - indeed, I am sure it will happen shortly, or in the course of time for Africa - that this Parliament will become the face and voice of Kenyans and East Africans and that we shall never be put in an embarrassing situation by others. I want to walk in East Africa proudly and be able to say; I come from Kenya and we respect the rule of law. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those remarks, I beg to support."
}