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{
    "id": 224588,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/224588/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 199,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. G.G. Kariuki",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 330,
        "legal_name": "Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki",
        "slug": "gg-kariuki"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I hope that my friend, hon. Muite, will not personalise this Bill as if it is his brainchild. Let the Bill be debated by all Members of Parliament who are not members of the Departmental Committee on Administration of Justice and Legal Affairs. We have no information about where he got his ideas from. Therefore, let him give us the freedom to debate this matter. The philosophy of forming a political party is what concerns us more. In the 1960s and 1970s, the entire African region was controlled by foreign powers during the \"Cold War\". No political party was allowed unless it was supporting a certain \"ism\". It was either capitalism or socialism. However, this does not mean that those who were there during those days were not educated enough, read law or good politicians. They were controlled out there. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the environment has changed. This is the time hon. Members of Parliament should think for Kenyans. Are we ready to do what we are trying to do now? We are saying we are going to fund political parties. First of all, we should have been men and women enough to say that a certain percentage of the taxes collected should go to political parties' funding. We are just saying the Ministry of Finance shall give us some money and it will be divided equitably among the political parties. Are we not deceiving ourselves? What are we talking about? Why can we not say 2.5 per cent of taxes collected would go towards funding political parties? I think we should be brave enough to give this Bill what it deserves. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have said this before but I want to say it again; if somebody knows that he or she is being undermined in his or her political party by a clique of people in good books and is denied the right to be a member of the political party by implication, that gentleman or lady has every right to cross the Floor and leave him or her alone. That is a democratic right! I would hate to see that Maj. Madoka, if I may refer to him once again, wants to change his political face and there is a law that stops him from doing that, I would not think I am a good politician if I were in that Parliament. We are fighting for freedom. The whole world is fighting for freedom. This is happening and yet you come here, cluster and decide to deny people their freedom. It is their birthright to be where they want to. Let us not simplify this matter. I know some hon. Members may think that I am trying to do something they did not expect. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when we talk about money being allocated to political parties and narrate what is supposed to be done, it is all theoretical. It looks like we have discovered the world of angels. It looks like we are going to have new people in this world. We are going to be the same politicians with the same feelings, ideas and tribalistic aspirations! Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, by passing this Bill, we will legitimise ethnicity and tribalism. Look at this Bill deeply and you will see that we are trying to legitimise and fund ethnicity and tribalism. After the money---"
}