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{
    "id": 274105,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/274105/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 567,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Ruto",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I will not go into great lengths of the arguments that have been ably argued. However, I want to remind us that the question of devolution is at the very heart of the campaign for constitutional change. The role of the Provincial Administration, Office of the President, through the last 50 years, has come to great question. It has created the impetus for the change that has been demanded all along. Today, this afternoon, we are not questioning the constitutional power of the President to give us a memorandum. It is clearly enshrined in the Constitution that he has that power. We are not arguing about that and, in fact, that is what I wanted to inform the Vice-President and Minister for Home Affairs that we are not arguing about his powers that are clearly put there. The question is: The issue before us that he wants us to agree to in his objections is the particular matters that are not constitutional. I do not think we are obligated to agree with the President just because he has powers to give us a memo. The memo must make sense in law and, in fact, once it is clearly proved in the Plenary here and everywhere--- Every right thinking Kenyan can see that this is in contravention with the existing laws. I think it would be very strange for Parliament to just go ahead and say that because the President has sent it to Parliament and it needs to two-thirds majority, we should just accept. This will send the wrong signals. I want to urge the Government to be very careful. I am persuaded by the views of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government but, nevertheless, I want to request the Government not to paint the Presidency as a home for regressive forces that are now coalescing around the Presidency as a last bastion against changes that Kenyans have yearned for, for over 50 years. This kind of view is now gaining currency all over the place. You will not hide behind the Presidency and hold onto a very regressive system called the Provincial Administration that operates like an occupational force throughout the country. They are a law unto themselves. We have established a national security organization known as the police. Who are these other fellows that you want to insist that they must exist side by side with the elected leadership at the lower level? Why did we yearn for constitutional changes if we wanted to retain the same? Where are we heading to, Mr. Chairman? We are persuading the Government to be open minded. You only have seven months. Why do you want to paint yourselves very ugly? I thought you want to come back. Do you not want to? Kenyans are yearning for changes, but you are now yearning to retain the status quo. Did we pass the Constitution so that we remain the same or improve?"
}