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{
    "id": 277649,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/277649/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 120,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Musayoka",
    "speaker_title": "The Vice-President and Minister for Home Affairs",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 188,
        "legal_name": "Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka",
        "slug": "kalonzo-musyoka"
    },
    "content": "On my part, I want to take this opportunity to very warmly congratulate His Excellency the President, hon. Mwai Kibaki, for the Statement that he made from the Chair yesterday. The whole country was watching. There are no Kenyans today who can say that they are not properly guided. When we say that this country needs to observe the tenets of the rule of law, His Excellency the President was able to elaborate on this. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when His Excellency the President talked about the next general election, I recall him say that before, during and after the general election this country should forever uphold the principles enshrined in our Constitution, particularly with regard to Kenyans’ need to observe strictly the rule of law. The alternative is the law of the jungle. I know that all of us have been able to traverse this country before and others are in the process of doing it. Even as we do so, it is important that we preach peace. His Excellency the President appreciates that there will be competitive politics. Even as we practice competitive politics leading to the next general elections, it behoves all of us to be always mindful of what is in the best national interest of this country. I, particularly, want to applaud His Excellency the President for dealing with the matter of our national integrity and the integrity of our borders in a very significant way. It is clearly elaborated in our Constitution that Kenya is one nation. Indeed, Kenya is one country and we are all the same. We may come from different communities, but there is unity in our diversity. I know my learned friend, hon. Martha Karua, takes issue with my description of oneness, but the truth of the matter is that it is an attempt to stress the need to uphold the unity of this nation and the integrity of the nation-State. Therefore, when we hear about organizations, and the President was very clear on this--- He said: “Specifically, the Coast region has been part of, is part of, and will remain forever part of the Republic of Kenya.” I think he made that issue clear. I want to call on friends who may be thinking in terms of acting contrary to the Constitution to be properly guided that this nation will not accept any secessionist moves because they are unconstitutional. There may be issues on the ground that have to do with marginalization, but this Government is determined to deal with those issues. In fact, the very fact of devolution as contained in our Constitution is aimed at dealing with those aspects. Over the years, since Independence, we are aware that there are regions in this country that have been marginalized. I want to refer all of us to the provisions of the Constitution and particularly the bit dealing with the “stabilization” fund; that in the next 20 years those regions that have been marginalized will have to get special attention and allocation."
}