{"id":508957,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/508957/?format=json","text_counter":40,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Kajwang’","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":2712,"legal_name":"Tom Joseph Kajwang'","slug":"kajwang-tom-joseph-francis"},"content":"Hon. Speaker, with gratitude, I rise to bring my appreciation on my own behalf as the Member of Parliament for Ruaraka Constituency and on behalf of the immediate family of the Late Senator Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ and the entire family of Mzee Japuonj David Ajwang’ Nyakwamba for the act of love that the institution of Parliament as a whole demonstrated to us as a family during our trying moments of grief. Hon. Speaker, you distinguished yourself when you led Members of the National Assembly to pay tribute on the Floor of the House to the departed Senator. The words of condolences which flowed freely from the Floor of the Chamber, the words of affirmation which were carried in different media including print, social and various forms of digital appliances not only brought comfort to us as a family, but also strengthened us so that we recognised the loss of the Senator not as a personal one, but one which involved the whole nation. Hon. Speaker, you found time to lead a delegation of the National Assembly to our home and in it; you revealed your love to us as a member of our Parliament family. When you joined us in the public tribute gathering, we recognised your affection as a member of the political family. Members of the National Assembly as well as Members of the Senate sacrificed their time and resources to reflect upon the life that they shared with the late Senator. The late Senator lived a life of “Mapambano”. He was ever reminding the citizens of this nation that the struggle continues. Ever telling us that there is a clarion call that all of us must rally towards striving to make Kenya a better place than we found it upon birth. It is a cry of unity as a nation. It is a cry that we can execute our tasks with passion, diligence and commitment. It is a cry that we can be faithful with what is most important for this nation, so that we are faithful to issues like constitutionalism, issues of devolution, security and the good governance of our country. Hon. Speaker, he will be remembered for reminding his audience of the constitutional concept of: “We are the people.” This is a national conscience that power is truly vested on the people of this Kenya to be used wisely by institutions to which the same power is bestowed. I, therefore, plead that through the death of Senator Otieno Kajwang’, every citizen and, indeed, every leader to whom power has been bestowed on behalf of the citizenry, should locate him or herself within that precept of “BadoMapambano” or “ Aluta continua”. I urge us all to refocus our energies on what brings us together, which is nationhood and what brings us together to fight our common enemies especially insecurity and doubters of devolution. This is why, although I grieve the death of my brother, I choose to recognise it as a loss that we have incurred as a country because our common destiny is, perhaps, bigger than our personal losses as a nation. The Senator’s last speech was about insecurity. However, no sooner had he spoken than the vile enemy struck in Mandera killing more than 56 innocent lives. When I saw those pictures that came through the social media, I felt for myself that the death of Otieno Kajwang’ was insignificant compared to the lives that Kenyans have incurred over the years because of issues of insecurity that we are unable to tame. I think no Kenyan should lose their lives in circumstances that we can avoid. Therefore, I wish to take this opportunity to express my condolences to the members of those families that lost their lives in those circumstances. I hope that as leaders of this nation, we will find a 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."}