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{
    "id": 388908,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/388908/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 272,
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    "content": "What are we planning? Because three years and 11 months down the road, we are going back to the ballot and we want to see that whoever wins in whatever questionable manner, we do not kill each other the way we did in the year 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2007. That is the reason why I want to urge these Senators – those who are wailing louder than the bereaved – not to look at this matter because of the exigencies of today. I have no doubt in my mind that if my learned junior was not lent the opportunity to be the Senate Majority Leader in this House, he would not have spoken the way he did, because I know him very well as a lawyer and a colleague. I know his thinking and I know what he stands for, but that is a topic for another day. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to urge this House and Senators that whatever you do--- I always remember the good old John Michuki – may God rest his soul in eternal peace – that is a man who always spoke the truth. You may recall that in 2002/2003 when President Kibaki came into office, good old John Michuki stood up and said: “Now we do not need to agitate for a new Constitution; we just wanted a new Constitution to remove President Moi. Now that he is gone, we do not need a new Constitution.” Mr. Speaker, you were in Parliament with me when we were debating the Rome Statute; and you remember what our good old colleague said. He said: “We want a local tribunal because we can control and determine who is jailed and who is not.” You were in the House with me. I am not saying this to disparage Mzee Michuki; I am just saying that he is a man who spoke his mind. He was a wonderful man; when he said let us have seatbelts for matatus, everybody put on a seatbelt, and he believed in one philosophy; reward and punishment. That is what he always said. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to urge these Senators that, regardless of whichever side you are, it is the interest of this country that we are protecting. We cannot be a country that jumps in and out of agreements. Let me remind you of what I said here in the first week of our sitting. There was a Prime Minister of Pakistan who was called Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who was overthrown by the army. But when he was the Prime Minister, a Bill was brought to the House to allow Queen’s Counsel (QC) from the United Kingdom (UK) to practice law in Pakistan. The law was passed and he refused to assent to it. When he was overthrown by the army, locked up and charged with treason, no lawyer in Pakistan could touch him. He went to the UK to bring a QC and he was shown the law he had refused to assent to. Ukiona mwenzako akinyolewa, tayarisha kichwa chako. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the alternative leadership in this House, we oppose this Motion."
}