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{
    "id": 307410,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/307410/?format=api",
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    "content": "it is important that we keep at bay those who are ready and willing to harm Kenyans at any minute. The freedom that is in our Constitution must be protected, but it is also important to let Kenyans know that this freedom has corresponding responsibility. As we continue legislating if we do not let Kenyans know that freedom that they and we are entitled to as provided for in the Constitution has responsibility and we have duties as Kenyans; if we do not bear that in mind, we will be hurting this country in the near future. It is important that even as we seek to curtail or limit, the freedoms that have been provided for, we make sure that we do it responsibly and let Kenyans know that freedom comes with responsibility. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to join the other Members who have said that it is important that the chemistry of the Director-General and that of the President are seen to go together. In the event that they do not have the same chemistry, the Director-General can give intelligence information that would take the country to one way while the Head of State’s stand would take it another way. Eventually, it is we, Kenyans, who would suffer. I agree that it is not good for this country and for us, as Members of Parliament, to politicize every other appointment. If we subject the appointment of the Director-General to vetting by Members of Parliament, which is okay, we will end up with a political process. We will end up with a head of an intelligence agency who would just be serving the interests of some people because he would be fearful of either not being re-appointed or losing in one way or another. I believe we would have other issues of other agencies that would come before us. It is important that we keep that in mind. When you read Clause 8 of this Bill, it is a bit worrying because it has criminalized the profession or career of those who have joined politics. It says that you cannot hold any office within the agency if you have been a politician, or if you hold an office within your political party. I think this is one of the areas that require amendments, because we are now encouraging young men and women to join in the political process of our country, or the leadership of this nation. If they want to join us and then lead this clause, the young people we want to come and help this country will be fearful, because joining politics will be like becoming a criminal. Under Clause 8(2), we are grouped together with those who have committed criminal offences and have been sentenced to imprisonment for a term exceeding six months. So, we, politicians, and those criminals who have been in jail for more than six months, seem to be sharing the same kind of treatment with this legislation. It is important that we remove or delete that provision to ensure that, that is not the case. We do not want to limit what can be gathered. We have talked about drug trafficking, but we also have human trafficking that is going on in this country. We also need to make sure that it is detected early enough---"
}