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"id": 638261,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/638261/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Musila",
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"legal_name": "David Musila",
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"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I seek the indulgence of the House to make a Personal Statement under Standing Order No.46. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Statement is in connection with the barbaric incident at Kibwezi, yesterday, 21st March, 2016 whereby the Kenya Police under the command of one Mr. Kimaiyo, the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) without any provocation assaulted us; Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and members of the public, as we were exercising our constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully as per Article 37 of the Constitution. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the peaceful demonstration was to protest the Government’s failure to develop the Kibwezi-Kitui-Mwingi-Tseikuru Road which is B7 – and for the information of hon. Senators, the road when completed shall transverse Kitui, Tharaka-Nithi and Isiolo counties. It has been a source of frustration for the people of Kitui County since independence, 53 years ago. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I speak, despite the road having a high classification of B category, it is impassible. Kitui County residents wishing to travel to Mombasa have to come to Nairobi in order to travel to Mombasa. For the information of the august House, yesterday, I led the exercise in the company of hon. Museo, Member of Makueni County Assembly, hon. Jessica Mbalu, Member of Kibwezi West, hon. Kitungi, hon. Makali, hon. Nyamai, hon. Muluvi, hon. Mathuki of Mwingi West, Kitui Central, Kitui Rural, Kitui East and the East Africa Legislative Assembly respectively. Prior to our peaceful demonstration, we had informed the Kibwezi Officer Commanding Station (OCS) in writing as it is required. However, on Sunday night, we were given a one sentence letter from the police station stating that the demonstration would not be allowed “for security reasons.” Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, after receiving this letter, as a man who understands the law, I called both the Deputy Inspector General of Police Service, Mr. Kitili and the Cabinet Secretary, hon. Nkaissery. They both agreed that we proceed with our demonstration as long as it was peaceful. I gave the two gentlemen my personal assurance that the demonstration was going to be peaceful. We started our peaceful demonstration in the morning and walked 10 kilometres on the Kitui-Kibwezi Road towards Kitui. We decided to return to Kibwezi to go home as we had finished our demonstration. However, on our way back, six kilometres from Kibwezi, we found a police contingent in full riot gear blocking the road. They charged at us and without any warning or provocation, hurled teargas canisters at us and beat us up. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, they then drove on and waited for us two kilometres from Kibwezi where they repeated the same acts of violence, tear-gassing and beating us. A number of our people were injured. In addition, they robbed some demonstrators of cash and mobile phones. Along the road, they also robbed women of their fruits and ate them. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes"
}