{"id":258243,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/258243/?format=json","text_counter":518,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Mr. M. Kilonzo","speaker_title":"The Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs","speaker":{"id":47,"legal_name":"Mutula Kilonzo","slug":"mutula-kilonzo"},"content":" Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this chance to remind you something. I know you know the story of the Merchant of Venice. This is a famous play that I am sure a lot of the hon. Members have read. The shylock lent money to a merchant who was shipwrecked. The shylock now wanted his payment, which was a pound of flesh. Portia, a beautiful lady like hon. Millie here, stood up and said, “Here is a sword. Cut your pound of flesh, but not a single drop of blood should fall on the Floor.” The time for a Portia in Kenya has come. I sincerely share the pain that borrowers in this country have. Of course, it is very important that I also declare that I own a few shares in a few banks, but their activities in fleecing the borrowers and undermining the economy-- - It is time that a Portia for Kenya came up and offered this sword to the banks and said, “Cut your pound of flesh, but do not undermine the lifestyle of Kenyans.”"}