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{
    "id": 503592,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/503592/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 158,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "November 19, 2014 SENATE DEBATES 38 Sen. (Dr.) Zani",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if anybody had said that we would be standing here today talking about these things, I would have thought they live in another world. What has happened was most unexpected. I remember sitting here yesterday listening to Sen. Kajwang make his contribution to Sen. (Prof.) Lonyangapuo’s Bill that was being debated. He spoke with passion about various issues on security ranging from different backgrounds, I remember him talking about Lamu. As I was sitting here, I was thinking how well he articulated the issues and the passion which he brought out issues. I am very impressed because he was articulating issues from my region. At one time, Sen. Kajwang was concentrating so much and I told Sen. Sijeny who was sitting next to me about it. He was listening to everything that was going on, he was focused and really engaged in a very amazing manner. That was very surprising but very encouraging. Many times when he made his contribution, he did so with a lot of knowledge, passion and insight. I did not know that yesterday was going to be his last contribution. I did not know that I would never see him again in this Senate. It is a big blow for the Senate and for the whole country and more so for the people of Homa Bay who he served as the Senator. His Bado mapambano song will be associated with him for a very long time. Indeed, it epitomizes for us the song of a struggle. It is going to be a legacy for Sen. Kajwang that anytime when we fight for our rights, inequalities, social justice, space and the implementation of the Constitution, his memory will be a part of that struggle because he played a part in it. That was the serious part of Sen. Kajwang. There was a jovial and very laughable part about him. I remember in Mombasa when he was associated and said to be the Senator with a punch line and the way he reacted immediately, smiled about it and even gave us more tips. I think for us who are probably much younger politicians, he becomes a model of how even as a politician, you have heavy moments but you also have light moments. He was able to take those light moments and move on with them with a sense of humour that was only unique to him. I remember him in a special way, when I was running for the seat of Secretary General in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). He was also running for the seat of Vice Chairperson for the National Executive Committee. Everywhere in all the counties that we went to and all the delegates we spoke to, he took a leadership role. He took a role of guidance and working together as a team. I remember all the time sitting, strategizing, discussing, communicating and the sort of energy that he put into it. He had good words for all the members in the various themes. He did not just try to get the votes for himself but also tried to get the votes for all the other members who were in the team as well. He was very candid; he never just said something because he had to say it. You would tell moments when he had something to say but probably thought that was not the right moment to say it and he would keep quiet. I think that is the wisdom that comes with leadership that is so essential and so critical in our lives. Whenever there was a moment of a storm, he remained calm, gave leadership, advice, direction, listened and heard what you said when you were speaking. He wanted to contribute in one way or another to everything that he would offer. 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."
}