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"id": 228653,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Marende",
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"legal_name": "Kenneth Otiato Marende",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to contribute to this matter before the House. Despite talking from where I am, I wish to begin by commending a few areas that I isolate for compliment in the Presidential Speech. The first of this is the emphasis in the Speech that there is a determined bid on the part of the Government to allocate resources to the rural areas. Indeed, this has been witnessed by the establishment and implementation of the CDF. We have also seen more resources allocated to District Roads Committees. We have seen some resources go to the rural areas through monies allocated to HIV/AIDS. In particular, speaking for myself and the people of Emuhaya who I represent, we wish to thank His Excellency, the President for ensuring that the people of Emuhaya are allocated a district. For this, we are grateful! The second area that I have isolated to compliment the President for is his concern over the slow pace in the administration of justice. He is proposing that with appropriate legislation, the number of judges be increased to as many as 200, in both the High Court and Court of Appeal, in respective proportions. Indeed, this measure, once operationalised, will ensure that the backlog of cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal is a matter of the past. It will address the old platitude which we hope will be no more; that justice delayed is justice denied. However, it is important that it is noted at this point that whereas the President may mean well, it will be necessary that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is left alone to carry out its work impartially in the appointment of judges so that the ethnicity factor does not show its head in the appointment of the persons who will be judges. They should be appointed purely on merit. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, having said that, there are areas, though, which have been treated in that Speech fairly cosmetically and, perhaps, at best, superficially. Among these areas is the very critical area on constitution review. This is an area where Kenyans have been concerned for the past 15 years or so. The matter has become even more serious since the onset of the new Government and more so, given that there were many promises that raised the aspirations and expectations of Kenyans that we will realise a new Constitution sooner than later. I want to appeal, through the Government, to demonstrate more commitment and sincerity towards this endeavour. It is not enough for His Excellency the President to generally say that this area will be attended to. The President must walk the talk! He must demonstrate by action that he is committed to Kenyans getting a new Constitution. I expected the President to be more categorical and come out in his Address to say that his Government is, no doubt, going to, first, support the minimum reforms package. Secondly, he should have said that he will see to it that the road map to comprehensive review is cleared. I am neither particularly happy nor amused when I hear hon. Members of the Cabinet say that if a new Constitution is not realised, the blame will be on the hands of hon. Members. That walk must begin with the President! After all, it has always been true over history - it is still true today - that the buck stops at the presidency. The President must be responsible! Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to move to an area that now is common practice in the Government to talk about the economy growing. Yes, perhaps, the economy is growing. It is said that it is growing at 6 per cent. However, it is not good enough to talk about figures and percentages. We would like to see that if there is growth in the economy, it translates into tangible benefits for the ordinary Kenyan. 262 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES March 29, 2007"
}