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{
    "id": 228569,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/228569/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 39,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. ole Ntimama",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 200,
        "legal_name": "William Ronkorua ole Ntimama",
        "slug": "william-ntimama"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, thousands of days have passed, and yet we have no Constitution. The second one is corruption. I also see one single sentence on corruption which is also disjointed. I tried to decipher the meaning but I could not get it, and yet the President himself promised that the fight against corruption is going to start from him downwards. Now it has fizzled out into thin air. The third one is security. Even security is another disjointed sentence in this Speech. Mr. Speaker, Sir, what Kenyans expect is some serious pronouncements about the three issues. Let me talk about the Constitution as an example. I submit that this country has never had a Constitution that has been framed and consented to by the people of this country, to stabilise democracy in this country. For example, in 1964, the Lancaster House Constitution was abrogated. The Senate was sent home. The Regional Assemblies were cancelled, and yet we have never sat down and written another Constitution to replace the Lancaster House Constitution. That fundamental law as far as this country is concerned is just not there. Mr. Speaker, Sir, all we are now doing is just trial and error. We are now talking of minimum reforms. It looks like it is going to hit the rocks again. The impediments, the hurdles and the problems are always created by the Executive; one of the three arms of the Government. Look at the abrogation of the 1964 Lancaster House agreement, it was done by the Executive. The Zero March 29, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 245 Draft from Bomas of Kenya was stopped by the Government. Do we have any hope at all that this Government is going to facilitate the minimum reforms? Already this morning, they said that it is not workable. I want to submit that it is always the Government and the Executive which puts hurdles in the way of getting a Constitution for this country. We do not know why. Many people are talking about majimbo . As far as I am concerned, I am supporting a devolved Government. This world has gone federal and we have to go like everybody else. When they argue about unitary and centralism, that is nursing dictatorship. Some of us support a devolved Government so that we can operate our own affairs freely and democratically without people imposing their wills on the people and to give the people a right to exercise their democratic rights. We are operating under a situation whereby, clearly, we do not have the Constitution. Whatever we have is in tatters. People are not agreeing to sit down and give Kenya a Constitution. The impediment is the Government. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we have done nothing about fighting corruption. I think the President must come out clearly and transparently and say his Government has failed in the fight against corruption. We can now see those who were heavily involved in Anglo Leasing and Goldenberg scandals are the ones who are now leading some political parties. Where are we going? Mr. Speaker, Sir, I heard an hon. Member say the other day that they are still fighting corruption. Where? The wananchi know that those people are protected by the other arms of Government. They have looted our billions and they do not even have the courage to say: \"Bring our money back\" officially. They keep on saying that the money is coming or that it has been returned. We need a proper commitment to tell the British, Americans and the Germans: \"Here is the letter. Bring all our money back\" officially. If that does not happen, then we know that they are supporting, abetting and condoning corruption. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to comment on the issue of devolving the Government."
}