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{
    "id": 60253,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/60253/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 237,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ms. Karua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 166,
        "legal_name": "Martha Wangari Karua",
        "slug": "martha-karua"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion, but with some reservations. The President’s Speech largely focused on the legislative agenda that the Government is supposed to spearhead in Parliament. He covered widely areas that we require urgent reforms. I am happy that among the areas mentioned were the Judiciary, the police and the electoral systems and laws. We are waiting to see commitment from the Government to match the President’s pronouncement. It is easier said than done. We want to see the Government action reflecting the reform mood. We know that appointments have been made after this Constitution was promulgated, which have not reflected the reform mood. Several key appointments made by the President ought to have come to this House for approval like the Director General of the National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS). The President has continued to make appointments as though we are under the old Constitution. We want his good words to be matched by actions. When we come to police reforms, we expect not only acceleration of the reforms, but to see serious change. I am posing a question here for Members and the leaders of this country including myself: Are we being seen to reform if we hurriedly re-appoint those who were there and presided over the last elections which were a fiasco? If security was not okay, do we not need to vet and re-vet those who were in charge of security before we re-appoint them? Who is fooling who here? We are now aware that sections of the police were deployed to perform political roles. We have seen in this Coalition Government sections of the police and sometimes intelligence playing political roles during normal times and sometimes during by- elections. Do we not need to interrogate the track record of these individuals before we re-hire them? Are we going to go to the next election with security forces being deployed to perform political roles? We need to get serious in this House. You may think it is okay if it is happening to somebody else and not you, but I can assure you that the same will be visited upon you when the time comes. When you make good laws and insist on credible processes, you protect yourself and the future. I have been dismayed to notice in the Press that the Ministry of Public Works is asking people to express interest in the construction of county headquarters. Why is the Government treating the incoming counties as though they were districts? How can the Government start making critical decisions for a government that is yet to come? It is good that we plan and funds be set aside for use by the counties, but the truth of the matter is that this Constitution gives the counties autonomy. It is the duty of the county government to prioritize issues within the county. This Government must note that it cannot purport to spend money on behalf of the counties in advance. It can lead the public to discuss their favourite areas for headquarters. That decision cannot be firmed until the county government is in place. Let this Government match its actions with the reform tone that the President had yesterday."
}