HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 422961,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/422961/?format=api",
"text_counter": 117,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Keynan",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 41,
"legal_name": "Adan Wehliye Keynan",
"slug": "adan-keynan"
},
"content": "The Constitution and different regulations allow different entities to come up with their own symbols. The Kenya Defence Forces have their own symbols. The Kenya Police Service has its own symbols. In the past, county councils or municipalities used to have their own symbols. Again, this amendment does not take away the right of those entities recognized under our laws to come up with their own symbols. Therefore, each county government will be actually in order to come up with their own symbols that will reflect the uniqueness of that particular county. Where I come from it is a pastoralist area. Therefore, I would like to see a flag that shows an aspect of giraffes, camels at a water point and so on. If you come from Kiambu here, you will want to see a flag that shows a rich agricultural background. Those are the realities. If you come from Rift Valley, you would like to see flags reflecting the escarpment of the Rift Valley. What is being proposed, therefore, is that we should only allow the President, the Deputy President, the Chief Justice and the two Speakers of Parliament – those are five of them – to fly the national flag. All others will have the right to decide, craft and come up with a flag that symbolizes their own institutions. They will be still in order to come up with their own flag. Those flags, however, can only apply within the jurisdiction of those entities. If it is a flag of the Kenya Police Service, it should only be hoisted within the compounds of the Kenya Police Service and not anywhere else. The same applies to, say, the KDF. If a particular flag is designed and approved by a county government then, that flag should only be applicable within the boundaries of that particular county. This is so that we have some semblance of law and order. The other day, I attended a function in Mombasa and I saw over three hundred vehicles with flags. That is an abuse of that very important facility. In the African context, there is something called status symbol. Unfortunately or fortunately, in our young democracy, this status symbol is actually one of the causes of abuse of office. I am sorry to say that. The flag is very important, but, again, is it a must that every State officer displays it on his vehicle. Must all the, say, 2,000 State officers have the national flag on their vehicles? Hon. Deputy Speaker, another thing that this Bill seeks to address is this: Those who fly the national flag should behave in a manner that is consistent with the respect and importance that is attributable to this very important facility. We need to also appreciate that the Constitution allows--- You know, basically, Kenya is a free society. But in that freedom, we have so many individuals who are not responsible. This amendment is expected to rein in those rogue elements who abuse this facility for their own personal aggrandizement. We know that the five institutions we are proposing are respected national institutions. The Presidency is a key unifying institution and nobody has any question about it. The same goes for the position of the Deputy President. The two Speakers of the Senate and the National Assembly and the Chief Justice also are critical State officers. The role they play and the institutions they head provide a semblance of unique national functions. This is why we are saying that the flying of the national flag be limited to those offices. The other day, I attended a function at Nyayo Stadium. I realized that I was the only State officer who did not have a flag. Some other persons who are not even described by the law to have the flag had their own flags. We appreciate the level of determination and expectation to apply this, but whatever we do must be consistent with 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."
}