HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 229106,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/229106/?format=api",
"text_counter": 166,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Ms. Karua",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs",
"speaker": {
"id": 166,
"legal_name": "Martha Wangari Karua",
"slug": "martha-karua"
},
"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to look at the Ministry of Roads and Public Works and see its history and what appointments were made when various people headed it in the capacity of Ministers. I want somebody to look at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, where I was, and to look at those who were there before me and my successor. I want us to analyse ourselves. Do not remove the speck in your brother's eye before you remove the log in yours. Until we level with each other, we shall never be able to completely exorcise this ghost. I want to see their participation. I want us to remember history and recall the participation of certain leaders in 230 PARLIAENTARY DEBATES March 28, 2007 atrocities that have occurred in this country, in fanning ethnic hatred. The way to finish the ghosts of tribalism is by being honest with one another; confessing where we have made mistakes and resolving to move on differently, but not by demonising a community. It cannot be that anywhere a member of the Kikuyu community is appointed, that becomes tribalism, but when a member of another community is appointed, it does not become tribalism. It maybe that there are areas that have imbalances. For example, you may find that in department \"A\" members of one ethnic group dominate, while in another department, it will be another ethnic group. Let us put everything on the table and agree on what to do, to make everybody comfortable. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Kenyans have to be very careful. They should listen to us, as leaders, and determine for themselves who are genuinely speaking for harmony between the various communities in this country, and those who are looking for hatred and the eventual destruction of our motherland. It saddens me to see people, who are Presidential aspirants, insult and defame their motherland in foreign land. How do you hope to destroy your motherland and hope that when you become President, you will be able to rebuild it? It is sad that we can have a person who is a national leader by virtue of being in this National Assembly, go to foreign lands and start maligning his or her motherland. What do you expect the people you are telling out there to do? They will not come here and sort out any mess, if at all there is any. It is our responsibility, as Members of this august House, if we think anything is wrong with our country, to bring Motions and propose laws here. Let us initiate change of policies and movement in the right direction. Do not go out there, crying to people who are least concerned. They will only help you to destroy your country more. I would urge Kenyans to reject all leaders, who shamelessly defame their motherland in foreign lands. I have had occasion to spend ten years on the Opposition side. But I never, for a single day, went to stand before a foreign audience, to talk about the ills of this country. We did it here on the Floor of this House and on our soil, where Kenyans could listen to us and do something about it through the ballot. It is totally irresponsible for anybody to be so unpatriotic, as to spread falsehood and propaganda against his or her own motherland. Constructive criticism is allowed. When you go and attack the Nairobi Stock Exchange in a foreign land and when you come back you cannot say those words--- When certain tapes of people insulting their motherland overseas are finally released, some people will look for where to hide, because they talk thinking that nobody is listening. Patriotic people in those countries will have taped you in a Githongo-like fashion. When you hear it on air, do remind yourself that those were your words. As a Government, we are there to listen and respond, but we also have a responsibility to question proposals. However, we will be big enough to listen and do what is required to be done. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to support."
}