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{
    "id": 756557,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/756557/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 81,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Judah Katoo Metito",
    "speaker_title": "The Member for Kajiado South",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 199,
        "legal_name": "Judah Katoo Ole-Metito",
        "slug": "judah-ole-metito"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker for giving me this opportunity. First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to thank God and the people of Kajiado South for giving me the privilege and honour to represent them for the fourth straight term without interruption. I promise that I will serve them to the best of my ability. As for the President’s Speech, it was a brief one. For those who have been here before, there was no legislative policy or proposed statements. I hope he will come soon again after 17th October to outline the legislative framework or policies that his Government would like to be implemented. He said no one should disrupt our hard-earned peace and stability. He mentioned the need for us in this environment of politics to compete in a free atmosphere without threatening the security of our nation. He talked of the need for all political players to avoid engaging in divisive and destructive politics that have no place in the modern Kenya. That shows the President, as a symbol of national unity, was talking about the need for the country to be stable and united. Coming from a party that calls on building bridges, you will understand the background of his call for unity and stability of our nation. That brings us to the need to adhere to it and especially because we have a presidential election ahead of us. We should not be distracted by issues that will affect our economy. As we get to the public and shout the loudest, we will affect the private sector, which is one of the drivers of our economy. I also urge my colleagues who are demonstrating out that they will shrink our economy not just for this country but the region as well. In his Speech, the President talked about the need for us to uphold the Constitution that all of us swore to protect and defend. He said that the three arms of the Government – the Judiciary, Legislature and Executive – should work together, without interfering with each other. The three arms of the Government are independent of each other but at times they become interdependent. There is need for the three arms of the Government to appreciate the roles assigned to each one of them by the Constitution. Hon. Members will remember that in the last Parliament we had so many cases where the Judiciary injuncted Parliament – both the National Assembly and the Senate – on matters that were before this House. I remember we passed a constitutional amendment that should stop that kind of behaviour. Some politicians do not want the Judiciary attacked, but they continue to attack the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which is also an independent institution. In order for us to move smoothly as a nation, we need to respect the independent institutions that have been created by the Constitution, just as this House is the representative of the people. Finally, there is a serious drought in this country, especially in pastoralist areas. This adverse weather phenomenon will affect the turnout of voters on 17th October. There is need for the Government to mobilise resources and assist those areas."
}