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{
    "id": 590672,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/590672/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 335,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "October 13, 2015 SENATE DEBATES 43 Sen. Orengo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, unfortunately I have to speak in English to follow the example of my senior, Sen. Wako. That is because there are one or two things I wanted to say which I would like to emphasize. It was great to have the President of Tanzania visit Kenya on a state visit and also to address a Joint Sitting of Parliament. The fact that it was President Kikwete addressing the Joint Sitting of the Kenyan Parliament was indeed welcome. President Kikwete stands different from the other Presidents in the region in many ways. First, when President Kikwete was here he did not indulge himself in internal politics. It was not obvious to the Kenyan public that he was on any particular political mission. I do not need to remind you that there have been other heads of state from the region when they come to Kenya, it is quite clear that they are participating in the internal politics of the country. President Kikwete held himself in the highest level of dignity by talking to Kenyans without distinction. The only thing that went missing was the fact that he was not given an opportunity to meet the leadership of the Kenyan Opposition which, I think should be a standard rule. When a leader is on a state visit, we should be tolerant and be prepared to give visitors who come to our country a chance to talk to people from all sides of the political divide. I think we missed a chance to demonstrate the new Kenya that we are striving to build. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I have gone through the Speech of President Kikwete as given to us and, of course, I listened to him. One distinctive thing that I collected was that he avoided talking about the International Criminal Court (ICC). The position of President Kikwete and the United Republic of Tanzania on the question of ICC is quite clear and very different from many other countries which were trying to shift their position. He did not try to please us by pretending about change of position in terms of the ICC, which by all intents and purposes is part and parcel of the law of Kenya. The ICC is part of the Kenyan Judiciary –a Kenyan court which has been domesticated not just by the Constitution, but by the International Crimes Act which was piloted through Parliament by the former Attorney General (AG) emeritus, together with the former Minister for Internal Security – may the Lord rest his soul in peace – the late (Prof.) George Saitoti. Having said that, the truth shall set all of us free. I am saying this because the President of the United Republic of Tanzania avoided this, but I think in his silence, he was speaking volumes. I would advise our Kenyan brothers that together we can build a better country by being committed to the truth and the law. I cannot sit down without saying that I am sure if the leader of the Opposition in terms of political parties, former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, was asked to give evidence at The Hague on the basis of what he knows and what is relevant to the case, there would be no problems about it. This is because it would be a matter that is guided by the law and principles of international justice. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, whether we like it or not, the people who are responsible for the evidence which is now being adduced before the ICC, were people who were in charge of the intelligence during the Grand Coalition Government. If you think I am lying, the records of the minutes of the Security Council at the national and the various county and provincial levels will show. This is what constituted the basic 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."
}