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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Musyoka",
"speaker_title": "The Vice-President and Minister for Home Affairs",
"speaker": {
"id": 188,
"legal_name": "Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka",
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"content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to take this opportunity to wish my hon. colleagues well during the next two or so weeks. It is a recess that is very well earned. When we resumed, as a Special Session, our mission was very clear. It was necessary for us to pass the Judicial Service Bill as well as the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Bill. Both of these Bills are now awaiting Presidential assent and I am sure by the time this House gets back after two weeks or so, His Excellency the President will have assented to these very important pieces of legislation. I want to call upon the Attorney-General to give this matter his best in terms of dedicating time to make sure that His Excellency the President is put in a position to sign these two pieces of legislation. They constitute the very best that we have done in terms of implementing the Constitution. The Government is fully committed to the full implementation of the Constitution. I want to agree with hon. Odhiambo-Mabona that although there will be hiccups here and there, we should not lose sight of the fact that we have done very well. By passing these two pieces of legislation, the country is now in a position to move to the next level, which is to have a fully-independent Judiciary within the expectations of the Kenyan people. I have no doubt that after we appoint the judicial officers, we will be seen to be one country again when it comes to the practice of law and independence of the Judiciary. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to urge that we all exercise maximum restraint. This is because Kenyans in the diaspora are not able to follow the nitty gritties of politics and so they think that we are not committed as a legislature to the implementation of the Constitution. Therefore, let us give all Kenyans full confidence wherever they are. They need to feel that this House is taking leadership with regard to the all important matter of implementing our Constitution. We are basically set, but let us know that the country, at the moment, is faced with serious challenges. There is drought in many parts of the country. We still have Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and we need to resettle them so that they can go home and get on with their lives. It is important to draw the hon. Membersâ attention to the fact that the Commissioner of Police gave a full alert because of what is happening across the Kenya/Somalia border. It is important that Kenyans take heed of that precaution and be careful about where they gather. Young people like to go to Nakumatt Junction and so on. As they do that, they should take into account the need to be extra vigilant. If there are suspicious characters, they should be reported immediately to the Commissioner of Police. We cannot expect to deal with drought and at the same time some elements that are hell-bent on creating disharmony and insecurity in this country. It is important as leaders to take that into account even as we break for the next two weeks. I want to urge that we speak with one voice. Even on this matter of establishing a local tribunal, I am happy that we are now beginning to talk together again. Let us ask ourselves: âWhere did this rain begin beating us?â If you are a political leader and you are in the habit of acting in a manner that is disrespectful to your colleagues, it is time to use these two weeks to reflect. We are all birds of the same feather. We need to appreciate that this is our country. Everybody has a right to live peaceably with each other. Therefore, let us respect each other and use language that is not demeaning to any of us. I do not think it is appropriate to brand Kenyans, âthis-and-thatâ and yet we believe in the principle of law. This is a country that now wants to be seriously guided by the rule of law in all that we do. I also want to challenge the National Cohesion and Integration Commission to deal with these matters. I beg to support."
}