HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 60557,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/60557/?format=api",
"text_counter": 268,
"type": "other",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Mr. I.E. Mohamed): Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the Presidentâs Speech. The Speech touched on many issues especially the legislative agenda that is before this House during this Session. This country passed the Constitution on 4th August, 2010 and promulgated on 27th August, 2010 and up to now, seven months down the line, we are grappling with the issue of implementation. There are many issues which are outstanding as far as the implementation of the Constitution is concerned. This Parliament is up to the task because we were together when we passed the Constitution. I think we have been politicking a lot and we have not done as much as we are required. We owe it to Kenyans to fully implement this Constitution in readiness for the much talked about election of 2012 so that all the good things that we have foreseen for this country are put in place. I am surprised when I hear colleagues talk about going for elections and dissolving the Coalition Government and yet we have no system in place to do so. We do not have the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). We do not have electoral laws. I hope in that within the timeframe set by Fifth Schedule, we should be able to pass the required laws, so that we can actually operationalize our Constitution. The reason is because we have been pulling in different directions depending on which side you are. It is unfortunate that we have become so much polarized in the Grand Coalition. It is important that as leaders of this country, we put this country ahead of everything and push forward. The year 2012 will come and go, but things will depend on how we will put systems in place, so that we have peaceful, fair and free elections, as the President said in his Statement. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, if I see myself as Mohamud in that Constitution, I will not be able to pass it. Let us implement the Constitution for posterity and know that this Parliament will be remembered for what it will do. This Parliament has given this country a new Constitution, thanks to the Kenyans and the support we got. Let us take it further, so that it is properly implemented. The Address talked about the legislation we have passed. It refers to the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, which we were thanked for passing. I regret that His Excellency President refused to assent to the Indemnity Bill, which is very important and deals with big problems in this country. We are talking about alcohol control, but I think people have their senses and can control their alcohol behavior. But I think the crimes we committed against ourselves in this country--- That law should have been assented to. We still demand that the Government assents to that Bill. I hope that the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly will bring it back here, we debate it and take it back to the Government. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, drought has been mentioned in passing in the Address. Drought is affecting this country and a disaster is looming. We are paying lip service to it. The Address, and I quote, says, âParts of this country are also experiencing prolonged drought, food shortage as well as lack of grazing pastureâ. No mention is made of water. The biggest scarcity we have today is that of water. In fact, it is not the issue of food but the issue of water. We have scarcity of water and pasture for animals and, of course, food. I think we have not taken this matter seriously. We have paid lip service to it. We held a meeting with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and other stakeholders, and we were given some promises about what was going to be done. Unfortunately, nothing is in place. The rains have again delayed. Unless we, as a country, come out and do something, disaster is in the making and very soon, you might hear of deaths of people, not to mention those of animals which have already started dying. We would like to have a strategy for the short-term, so that we deal with this matter. A disaster must be declared. The Government has refused to declare a disaster! I do not know why we are not declaring it. We want this Government to declare it a disaster, so that others come in and help us deal with it. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the ICC debate that is in the country, it is very unfortunate that we have reduced the disaster in this country today to the ICC. We are not talking about a disaster like drought. We are making the ICC a disaster. It is not a disaster; we took ourselves to the ICC. We willingly referred ourselves to the ICC. It is not the United Nations (UN) which took us there; so, we cannot ask them to defer the cases. We took ourselves there; so, let us deal with it. Let us declare our interests. Let us get justice for the victims and fair trials for the people who are accused. It is important that we tone down on politics in this country. We should cool down, so that Kenya will survive after The Hague. Kenya will continue to be a country. It is our country and we have nowhere else to go. Let us put the temperatures down. Let us try to reduce the level of rhetoric, as somebody has mentioned. Let us stop reckless talk and deal with the matter maturely and soberly. We should not put it in a context that can turn our people against one another. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, many Bills have been listed here; I hope we, given the support of everybody, are up to the task. We hope we will not be derailed by a lot of side shows. There are a lot of side shows in this country, but we have a rare opportunity. The President, in his Address, talked about this House having the rare opportunity to participate in the enacting of laws. Indeed, it is a rare opportunity. This opportunity will never come again. We had the opportunity for the Constitution to be passed during our time. We have the opportunity to pass the laws that are required to make this Constitution operational. Let us not squander this opportunity. Let us focus on the Constitution. The year 2012 is not far away. Those of us who will be back, God knows; we do not care who becomes the President of this country. Any Kenyan from Turkana down to the Coast can be the President of this country. Let us put systems in place for Kenyans to have free and fair elections. Let us not be talking about individuals. The Constitution is bigger than individuals. It is bigger than me and you. It is for Kenyans and for posterity. Let us live up to task as Kenyans; let us move forward and have the Constitution implemented for Kenyans. With those remarks, I beg to support."
}