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"speaker_name": "Mr. Ngugi",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this chance, which I have waited for for the last one hour. I want to support the exposition of Government policy by the President yesterday. As I do so, I want to congratulate my friend, hon. Ojaamong, for speaking his mind. It is only when we have Members of Parliament who can speak what their conscious tell them that this country can move forward. In supporting the Presidentâs Speech, one clear fact is that he is focused on implementing the new Constitution. His Speech was mainly about that. If all of us who have a part to play in the implementation of the Constitution can be as focused as His Excellency the President, then this country can change for the better. What might derail the implementation of the Constitution are the side shows that we have seen. Instead of the Government, Parliament, politicians and the country focusing on the implementation of the Constitution, we derail the process by focusing on issues that are not important for the country, but are only important for individuals. In this respect, I am referring to the issue of the ICC and the Ocampo Six. With all sincerity and humility, with all the goodwill to the Ocampo Six, and most of them are my friends, that this country is larger than them. Even the Ocampo Six themselves have said so time and time again, that this country is for 40 million people. This country ought to address itself, focus and spend its energies and resources on addressing the welfare of the 40 million. We should address ourselves to the future of this country. When we fail to implement the Constitution and in the process we are derailed day in day out, by discussions about the Ocampo Six, then I see that we have lost focus. I have no doubt in my mind that courts are there for people to be charged. Those ones who will be found guilty will be convicted. However, those who will be found innocent will be set free. This is not different for the International Criminal Court (ICC). The six have been summoned there. We need to go to court and seek our justice. I believe the Ocampo Six want to see justice done to them. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Ocampo Six would want to see justice done quickly. As the saying goes, justice delayed is justice denied. I do not see why the cases should be deferred for a year because the Ocampo Six would want to see swift justice. The victims would want to see swift justice. So, let us be sincere and honest. Let us have no hypocrisy. We want justice done to the Ocampo Six and the 1,300 people who died. We also want to see justice for thousands of people who were displaced and lost their property. It is justice for the country whose economy dipped because of the post- election violence. Unless we are honest with ourselves and are clear on what we want for this country, then we will just be going round in circles and we will not make any progress. All of us have had a chance to travel outside our country. Some of us have travelled to Rwanda, Brazil, Turkey, Israel, Singapore and Malaysia, among other countries. We have seen politicians in those countries focused on improving the welfare of their people. It pains me to see here we only care about our stomachs. We want to waste the future of our children like we have wasted ours, or like ours was wasted by the politicians before us. Time has come for us to say with all sincerity that we must address what is important for the country. We must sacrifice so that our children and the future generations can live in peace and in better conditions. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in this respect, I hope that even as the President is focused on the implementation of the Constitution, the various Ministries will be focused on their mandates. If it is the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, I would want to see a policy here on water conservation, harvesting and usage. That is what that Ministry should be doing, so that year in, year out, we do not have to hear about hunger in Turkana, North Eastern Province and floods in Budalangi. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we want to see the Ministry of Energy concentrate on its mandate so that the fuel prices do not have to skyrocket like they have done. If there was forward planning and a long-term plan for energy, the prices would not be where they are now. I want to see the Ministry of Agriculture doing research, giving this country the best methods of producing, storing and marketing food, so that we not only feed our people, but also export our produce to other countries. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, security is an important aspect for the country. Security is important for us to attract investors. It appears we cannot guarantee the security of our ordinary citizens such that day in, day out, we hear that some people have been taken out of matatu and killed. The next day, the police issue statements saying that they were not involved. We could give them a benefit of doubt, we could listen to them, but it is the responsibility of the police to maintain security in this country. If it is not them, then who is responsible for these deaths? Who is involved? If it was done without their knowledge, then they have failed in their duties. We would want to see security guaranteed for all of us in this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would want to see this country as one country despite the fact that we are 42 tribes with different diversities. I would want to see true reconciliation so that all the tribes of this country can live together. It is upon us, as leaders, to genuinely work together, so that this country can enjoy perpetual peace. With those few remarks, I support the Presidential Address."
}