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{
    "id": 421659,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/421659/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 265,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kananiza",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13113,
        "legal_name": "Daisy Nyongesa Kanainza",
        "slug": "daisy-nyongesa-kanainza"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Constitution is a document that embodies a social contract between the state and its citizens. It is through this Constitution that the citizens are actively involved in their own governance. That is why, on this note, I stand to support the Motion brought by Sen. Wako to ensure that through civic education, we are able to get to the grassroots so that people can be able to understand a number of things. Just as my colleague had said earlier on, it is true that in 2010, some people believed in their leaders; that if so-and-so has read the Constitution, so be it. The same applied to others who if their leader had said “no”, that was it. That was a real mistake and it is important that we do not leave this responsibility to the civil society or some other independent organizations. It is now the responsibility of the Government, with the new system in place, to ensure that people understand the Constitution. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, in our counties, people think devolution is a Governor. Devolution is a big system that involves many players. That is why you hear Members of the County Assemblies being influenced by Governors to recall their Senators just because we are querying how they are spending public funds. It is very important that people are properly educated. We are also aware through the Ministry of Devolution and Planning, that there is a lot of money that it is holding that is meant for civic education. It is important that they set up information centres in different counties, putting in mind that we are living in a digital era and people no longer go to barazas. They could also create a twitter handle where they are able to put their information; young people will be able to re-tweet or put their comments on it. I also want to echo the comments made by two Senators about including civic education in the school syllabus. It can be put as a subject or it can be taught alongside other subjects like history. We have been learning about other countries and it is time that Kenyans understood their own system. As a result of lack of knowledge, people’s rights have been violated. Women are not able to get what they should get because they do not know what their rights are. Even the young people only hear of Article 55 that talks about the rights of the youth, but in real sense, they do not know which way to approach it. It is also true that civic education must start at the top. I support the Motion."
}