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{
    "id": 56829,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/56829/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 420,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Namwamba",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 108,
        "legal_name": "Ababu Tawfiq Pius Namwamba",
        "slug": "ababu-namwamba"
    },
    "content": "We must also avoid side shows that may interfere with the process of implementing this Constitution. We have spent so much time talking about The Hague and issues which we have obviously bungled ourselves and because honesty is such short supply, we do not have the courage to talk about some of these things. This House had the opportunity to debate at length and put in place a local mechanism. The HANSARD can bear us witness. We threw away that opportunity. We composed a famous hit chorus, “Don’t be vague, let us go to The Hague”. The Romans used to say that if you ask the gods something, you pray hard enough and you want it badly, the gods will let you have it. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, this House prayed so hard and wanted so badly to see The Hague trials and the gods have duly granted your wish. So, to use that occurrence to start encumbering the process of implementing this Constitution is unfortunate and very sad. Even as we talk about The Hague, even as we talk about the post-election trials, let us remember that justice has two sides. One side of justice demands that any suspect must be guaranteed a fair trial. So, I want to demand that, whether it is in The Hague, Kibera or Kisumu anybody suspected of any offence, whether it is petty theft or the greatest crimes known to humanity, must be guaranteed a fair trial. However, at the same time the victim must also be guaranteed justice. This is because we cannot be obsessed with rights of suspects and behave as if the interests and rights of the victims do not matter. It is heinous and it does not reflect very well on us. Therefore, those prayer meetings you are holding for the suspects may you also hold the same prayer meetings for the victims. Those prayer meetings you are holding for the Ocampo Six, may you also hold the same prayer meetings to remember the families, the children, the widows of 1,300 Kenyans who have no chance to speak today, who have no chance to go to some public rally, who have no chance to whip up public emotion at some Press conference, because they are dead and someone is responsible for their death."
}