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{
    "id": 345977,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/345977/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 367,
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    "content": "who have been awarded them is simply because they have persistently shown loyalty to certain course of thinking and that might be void of national interest. Therefore, we want to bring back meritocracy and do away with any award that might have originated as a result of mediocrity. Secondly, we want to have national awards that are based on performance and not on compliance because many of us are not compliant when it comes to some of those awards. Therefore, what we are saying is this: If an individual has excelled and performed; if an individual has shown an exemplary performance in a certain field and that individual might not be compliant with the politics of the day, then that individual is entitled to a national award. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, you have also realized that the issue of nationalism, which our forefathers clearly fought for, has been replaced with tribalism, regionalism and interests of petty bourgeoisies. What this Bill attempts to do is once again to clearly provide us with the use of nationalism and do away with anything that takes us to the root of tribalism. You realize that our forefathers under the flag of the Republic of Kenya with our constitutionally and internationally recognized borders figured out that we would all forget our tribal orientation and think first and foremost as nationalists. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the rule of law is very clear. One of the things that this Constitution clearly attempts to address is to make Kenya a haven of the rule of law, a country that is governed by the rule of law. It is because of this that sometimes when we see some signs of not complying with the rule of law and you get a national award, then I think this is something that we need to clearly do away with. On the issue of patriotism, these days, the element of patronage has taken the place of patriotism. Political patronage is one of the worst form of enslavement in one’s life. We need to do away with that so that that does not become an avenue for entitlement to some of these awards. The issue of political consideration, Kenya is a political society; it is a reality. All of us belong to different political parties. Therefore, the issue of political affiliation should not be a consideration for the conferment of national honors. What have we seen over the years since our independence? Conferment of national honors just from the pockets to individuals; the only qualification that they need is to politically show that they are compliant and that they toe the line. This Bill attempts to do away with this. The other issue is that of family consideration. The issuance of national honors should have nothing to do with family consideration, ethnic background or any other issue. It should be a merit-driven thing. The other issue is that of unilateral decisions by a few--- If you go back to the history of democratic revolutions and legislative history all over the world, there is nowhere where a legislature--- Parliament is always considered as a necessary irritant. If you ask any public servant, they will tell you we prefer Parliament because the other options are not very good; these are militarism and dictatorship. But they will tell you Parliament is also not very good. How do you expect the same individuals to honor some of the best brains in Parliament, or some of the judges who have been issued with these"
}