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{
    "id": 610623,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/610623/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 234,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mirenga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1943,
        "legal_name": "Ken Obura Mirenga",
        "slug": "ken-obura-mirenga"
    },
    "content": "to date, histology and toxicology reports have not been made public. Therefore, we need to establish the exact causes of death. Soon after the 2013 general election, hon. Sen. Mutula Kilonzo was found dead in bed at his Maanzoni Ranch, somewhere in Machakos County. Up to now, we are still waiting for the report about the true cause of his death. At least, the report is not in the public domain. Sometime in November last year, the late Hon. Sen. Otieno Kajwang’ of Homa Bay County was also allegedly rushed to hospital, where he unfortunately collapsed and was pronounced dead. We are still waiting for the autopsy report. On 4th January this year, Fidel Castro Odinga, the firstborn son of CORD Leader, hon. Raila Odinga, was found dead at his home in Karen in the early hours of that morning. We are still waiting for the histology and toxicology reports. The truth is that the mystery behind the deaths of prominent figures in our society has remained unresolved. The causes of deaths are not known. The issue has been left to public speculation. The truth is that the impact of such deaths can be very negative and can adversely affect the nation. A nation that is keen on remaining united must ensure that the causes of such deaths are known and made public. Hon. Members will recall that the cause of the 2007/2008 post-election violence was partly as a result of feelings by communities that some time back; some members of the society, whom they regarded their own, had unjustly been taken away from them. There was a feeling that they were being targeted as a community. When the post-election violence presented itself, some communities ended up engaging actively in the terror acts that followed with a view to revenging. Over 1,000 lives were lost, thousands of Kenyans were displaced and property worth millions of shillings destroyed. We all know what happened to our country. We do not want to go that route again, particularly if all that is needed is to make known the causes of the deaths of those people. The rest will then be left to the due process of the law. That is one of the reasons as to why I am moving this Motion – to have the proposed Committee to inquire into those deaths and eliminate any doubts or speculations that could be lingering in our minds and in the minds of the people we represent, so that the matters can be put to rest once and for all. I am aware that usually, the results of any inquiry can be very discomforting. I know that it may not be very good for the Government. It may be discomforting to the families and friends of the deceased or political allies of the deceased. But because we are interested in having a united country by ensuring that there is national cohesion, it is important that we unearth the actual causes of those deaths and make them known to the public. In setting up the proposed Committee in the manner I am proposing, it will hopefully serve to clarify the situation. Depending on the results of those investigations, this may eventually have the effect of removing this subject from the public discourse and ensuring that due process of the law then takes effect. So, I propose that we have a serious Select Committee, a standard Select Committee that can be used as a benchmark or as a blueprint for future similar investigations in this Republic. So, I propose a standard Committee. I want to call it a gold standard Committee. It will ensure that the Select Committee only works for a period of 90 days. Within those 90 days, the Committee must finish its work. It must be able to report its work to this House after the conclusion of the work. I am also proposing The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}