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{
    "id": 493949,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/493949/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 36,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kagwe",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 229,
        "legal_name": "Mutahi Kagwe",
        "slug": "mutahi-kagwe"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you very much. I also rise to add my voice in congratulating the President, for not just a very informed speech, but also very informed actions. In doing what he did and telling Kenyans what he told them, he emphasized that Kenya is a nation that respects the rule of law, not just internally, but also externally. There are those who had advised him not to take this particular action and not to present himself to The Hague, but I think what he did was wise. It is wise, not only because of the fact that we, as a nation, are seen to be respectful of the international community, but also because in a sense it was also a set up. There are those who would have wanted him not to go to The Hague, so that The Hague could then turn around and issue a warrant of arrest saying that he had refused to attend the court hearing. Therefore, they would have assumed that he is a criminal forthwith. Therefore, in a manner of speaking, the President called the bluff of the ICC. Mr. Speaker, Sir, like Sen. Mwazo, I was sitting in that chamber. It was embarrassing moment, not for the President, but the ICC. This is because the President sat there. He was asked whether he had anything to say and said he had nothing to say. The lawyers were going to speak on his behalf. So, those of us sitting there were questioning ourselves whether it was then necessary for the President to come and sit there, listen to a hearing and then go home. It became abundantly clear, that the intention was not that the President was supposed to say anything, but to embarrass him. The intention was to make him sit there and for the ICC to show that they can, indeed, summon a President. Fortunately, he took a very wise decision of not being the President as he sat there. Therefore, all they had was an individual from Kenya known as Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, who sat and listened and said nothing. We asked ourselves several questions as we sat there. Was that not something that could have been done by video conference in this day and age? The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}