Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 442623,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/442623/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 117,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. G. G. Kariuki",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 330,
        "legal_name": "Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki",
        "slug": "gg-kariuki"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, first, I want to send my condolences to the family of Gen. Mulinge and the people of Ukambani for the loss of a great man. I did not work with him for a long time, but the little time I knew him, he was a man of his word. During the coup, I was very close to him and saw how the Government was reorganized. One thing I continue remembering is when after Kenyatta’s death, he waited until 2.00 p.m. before pronouncing a new President. Gen. Mulinge came and asked us “suppose another person declares himself the president because I have taken too long to swear in the Vice-President” That showed that he was a man of wisdom. I worked with him and even when I came to disagree with the system at that time, he refused to join those who were trying to find mistakes in me. I remember that some 36 armed forces men and women came to my office. They wanted me to give them shambas. I was so lucky to ask them to go and get a letter from Gen. Mulinge. If Gen. Mulinge had not issued a small note, it was going to confirm that I was going to take over the Government because it meant that I was organizing some armed forces or military to take over the Government. Those were the days when anybody could say anything and it will remain the truth. Gen. Mulinge remained level headed; a man of his word, a man who did not fear to tell Moi when things were not good in the army. He would tell Moi that the majors and captains in the army were not happy. We survived at that time because of him. He was very genuine and was liked by other people who worked with him. I do not think Mulinge knew about tribalism. These were the people who went to fight the World War II and had been trained. So, they did not have any idea of tribalism. When he took over the leadership of the army, he was taking over from another general who had a little bit misbehaved because he thought he could have taken over the Government. Gen. Mulinge came up and said that as long as he was in charge, the country should be stable. If there is any other problem to face this country, then it would not come from the army. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in 1982 during the coup - a human being can err at times because the report was that--- I was in the security department. The report was that there was going to be a coup de tat and I kept on informing the system. The mistake we did is that the military sent all our people for training in western Kenya. They sent about 15,000 soldiers. The guys who were trying to take over and were known very well, realized that they had already told other people to come back, so that they could be arrested. The mistake we made at that time was to trivialize that matter. The general did not understand how, somebody in Laikipia base, by the name of Ochuka, a young fellow who was frustrated and had no money, nobody could understand that he can organize those things. That is why I am saying that when we are talking here about the security of the country, a small thing can ignite a war; a problem that none of us can control. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to thank the Speaker for catching my eyes because I thought I would not talk because my throat is not well. I thank you."
}