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{
    "id": 388424,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/388424/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 163,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Nyenze",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1987,
        "legal_name": "Francis Mwanzia Nyenze (Deceased)",
        "slug": "francis-mwanzia-nyenze"
    },
    "content": "is, let us not try, even at this time to contemplate moving away from the Rome Statute because it will not be good for Kenya. We signed and agreed! This ICC court’s main objective is to fight impunity and to fight for the rights of all people irrespective of their status. The other thing is that all of us signed without being pushed into it. I have said again and again that the timing of this Motion is bad and it will be seen like we are withdrawing because we are annoyed because they are trying our leaders. So that was the first mistake. When the Deputy Speaker recalled the House, I thought the most pressing issue was the VAT and insecurity in the country. We agreed to zero-rate or remove VAT on most of the basic commodities that are used by Kenyans only to realise later that the ordinary Kenyans cannot survive any longer. Having been called to this Special Sitting - and a ruling has been made that this has been done in the right way – I just want to remind Kenyans that CORD leaders travelled all over the world and pleaded with world leaders to bring the ICC cases back to Kenya for our people to be tried locally. It is on record that the former Prime Minister and the immediate former President had to call upon the international community to give us time to agree to set up a local mechanism of trying the suspects locally. However, the 10th Parliament, in which many hon. Members sat, failed this country. The rallying call of the majority of hon. Members then was “Let us not be vague, let us go to The Hague.” That is why we are now in this quagmire. As we all know, the ICC only takes up a matter when the criminal and judicial systems of a country have failed. Kenya’s justice and judicial systems have not failed. The problem is that we did not act at the right time. That is why the ICC came in. It is good to consult widely, as you plan, to void shooting yourself in the foot. Instead of this Motion achieving the desired objective of the Mover and the other people who conceived the idea, it will worsen matters. Kenya will be seen as a pariah state. We will be seen as people who are reactionary and people who want to have their way. I have sat in this House for quite some time. So, let me share with hon. Members some little experience. We do not want the Jubilee Coalition to take the CORD Coalition for granted on the bases of tyranny of numbers. We have asked that when you plan something, you consult us. Had you engaged us on this matter, we could have discussed and come up with a better solution. You want us to support the idea and go your way despite the fact that you never consulted us as you planned. Hon. Speaker, it may not be pleasant to say so but it is a fact that the last general election results show that this country is divided right in the middle. Jubilee and CORD have equal strengths. Jubilee may have more Members of Parliament, but CORD has more county governments, and specifically 24 out 47 county governments. It is a fact that, in terms of geographical spread, we are the majority. In terms of Members of Parliament, Jubilee has the majority. So, it is like we are at par. We have equal strengths. So, we want to be treated with respect. This country is ours. Even though Jubilee is the ruling coalition, we all need this country. We do not want Kenya to become a failed state. We do not want Kenya to go down the drain because our children live here. This is where our investments are. It is our country, and we love it. That is why we accepted the ruling of the Supreme Court on the presidential election petition, though with a lot of pain. My advice to Jubilee is that, in future, they should make sure that they engage us in planning on matters like the one before us because we are equal partners. We are not The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}