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{
    "id": 230143,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/230143/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 400,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kimunya",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Finance",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 174,
        "legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
        "slug": "amos-kimunya"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we are very keen to engage with Committees this time round, to clear the issues regarding Bills so that when we come back here, we do not have a Bill presented and the following day, more than a 100 being brought before this House. That makes nonsense of lawmaking, which we could tackle out there through negotiation. That cannot be done when we are still carrying on with the business of the House. This is December when schools close and people go on holiday. People need time to be with their families and engage themselves with their children who are always out in schools. Our Parliamentary staff need to have time with their families too. This is something that has been on the programme. Everyone knew that Parliament was to adjourn on 7th December, 2006. People have made their holiday arrangements and we need to be mindful of the Parliamentary staff. We should not just look at our own needs. Today we are here, but on Tuesday, if we were to stay, probably there would be no quorum in this House. Let us remember that we carry the responsibility of other people who work in this institution and they need time to be with their families. They need time to go and be with their children. We need to start thinking from that angle. I need to look at some issues which have been talked about here. The Leader of Official Opposition said that this is a great country that is being made small. I agree with him, that this is a great country being made small. When my child asks me why leaders hang on Government institutions' gates; why they call upon foreigners to discuss issues concerning the country instead of calling upon their fellow Kenyans; and, who the drug dealers connected to the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) are, what am I supposed to say? That is how we are making our country look small. I believe that we have a responsibility to take this time off. This is the season of goodwill; that we should embrace one another; think about where we went wrong; talk to each other, embrace the spirit of Christmas; and talk as leaders, as we think about where we will take this country in the next one year or in the next 20 years, for the benefit of our children. I believe that is what we need to do this time. With regard to the outstanding Bills, I do not think the financial related Bills will be ready, even in the next three weeks because we had made other plans. So, let us not disillusion ourselves that extending the Sitting Time by another two or three days will make us bring the Bill here. If I am not ready to move it now, the situation will still be the same, to even three weeks from now. Those are some of the issues we need to accept as a reality."
}