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{
    "id": 60553,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/60553/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 264,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Baiya",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 8,
        "legal_name": "Peter Njoroge Baiya",
        "slug": "peter-baiya"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am not reading a speech. I can even contribute to this Motion without even looking at this paper. I am saying that even ICC which has generated a lot of tension is an issue that our leaders could have handled much better than they have done. The main problem is that we had an opportunity to set up a tribunal. I was for the local tribunal, which unfortunately we failed to establish. When the ICC beckons to take over this matter, we are now rocked into a lot of controversy. The tragedy is that these matters end up hijacking the political focus of this country into what is not necessarily addressing our interest as a country. There is also a big danger that there are other foreign interests that are creeping in to more or less destabilize this country. If it is the ICC, we know for sure that as much as we would want end impunity in this country, we are aware that this is a court that has only dealt with cases emanating from Africa and part of Europe. What is so special about this region? It is only that there are forces out there who wish to use some of these institutions to stamp their authority among the weak regions. If you look at international politics, you know what has happened in a country like Iraq. We know the principles of Nuremberg and issues to do with weapons of mass destruction as a basis of attacking a country like Iraq. Some people committed crimes but they cannot find their way to the ICC. Those that are weaker are the ones who find themselves in the ICC. The ICC system is a global system that is not meant to uphold the interests of the nations that go there but for some global politics. It is true that we are not necessarily going to achieve our interest of long-term stability or dealing with impunity by going to the ICC. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I take the case in terms of justice. We know through the history of this country how we have faired in terms of justice especially during the colonial system. In the 1950s during the struggle for Independence, Kenyans, especially from Central Kenya produced gallant fighters like Dedan Kimathi and others but the foreign interest saw them as terrorists. Eventually, they were arrested. Although they were heroes to this country, the foreign interests saw them as terrorists. They were tried and hanged. Curiously, even their bodies were hidden and their burial sites remain mysteries even today. The same thing happened during the trial of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. We have people who confessed that they were paid to give false testimonies. That tells you that the justice systems have not been free from political interests. The same systems are the ones that we are seeking to expose our country to. I want to believe that it will only weaken our political institutions and compromise our independence as a country. If we believe in this country, we should support that we build strong institutions that can combat impunity effectively and punish those who will be tempted to commit crime later on. With regards to the performance of the economy, the President’s Speech was quite clear. It indicated how our economy grew to achieve a growth rate of 5.4 per cent. It is anticipated that that will continue if we carry out all the reforms through the various Bills. It is my strong sentiments that all these prospects will depend on how well we will manage our politics, reforms and the election process. It is still very important that the leaders tone down on the political campaigns and try to focus more on our country’s interest. I have noted with a lot of concern that very many Non-Government Organizations that exist in this country and the so-called donors do not even prefer to use the Government Ministries nowadays---"
}