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{
    "id": 755572,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/755572/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 164,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Yussuf Hassan Abdi",
    "speaker_title": "The Member for Kamukunji",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 398,
        "legal_name": "Yusuf Hassan Abdi",
        "slug": "yusuf-hassan-abdi"
    },
    "content": "struggle for multiparty democracy. A lot of people have sacrificed for us to enjoy the democratic space that we enjoy in this country today. As we sit here, we were all elected by the people, through their free vote in a democratic process. Therefore, for him to underpin the fact that there is no vacuum in the leadership of this country given that the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary are at work is to underscore the fact that this is a stable country that is recognised internationally. It is not a failed state. The perception that has been put out there in the public eye by the media is clearly an indication of the dynamics of our democracy but it does not reflect the reality of our country. There is absolutely no problem here. The President was elected with a five-year mandate. In fact, in my own interpretation, he is the President of this country for those five years until March or until such a time an election takes place and he is re-elected. The second element that I take from his Speech is his emphasis on peace and cohesion. There can be no development or any form of progress in our country unless we have peace and cohesion among our people. I speak as an experienced person who has witnessed conflicts around the world. Conflicts do not choose their victims. They do not ask whether you are a Jubilee or NASA supporter. They do not ask what religion or ethnicity you belong to. Conflicts burn and destroy. What has been built in many years can be destroyed in hours and days. Therefore, for those people who are craving or campaigning for instability in our country, let me just warn them that when instability comes – God forbid – it will not discriminate because you had stood in a particular position or because you had supported a particular position. Therefore, we must work together as Members of Parliament. Our responsibility is to work for one country or nation that is at peace with itself. Another element that the President spoke about, which I think is important, is our role as legislators. We are leaders who have been elected by the majority. We are here because of the people’s will. Therefore, in all our activities, we must be loyal to the people’s will. The fact that there are elected Members of Parliament who have been sworn-in in this House, and who are being paid by the taxpayer, but who have decided to not come and fulfil their democratic responsibility, is really a shame. They should not allow themselves to be used by remote controlled-machine led by a person who is not a Member of this House, and who has not been elected by the people of Kenya. I urge our colleagues who are out there to come back and fulfil their responsibility towards the people who elected them, and towards the people of Kenya generally, to ensure that we have peace, stability and security for development of this country."
}