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{
    "id": 757683,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/757683/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 237,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Josphat Wachira",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13441,
        "legal_name": "Josphat Kabinga Wachira",
        "slug": "josphat-kabinga-wachira-2"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me this chance to contribute to this very important matter of national security. As I have always said, I have been a peace practitioner in this region for the last 20 years, and one of the tools that we have been using to gauge whether we have peace or not is what we refer to as indicators. As I watch the trends, speeches and activities in this country, I can tell you that there are some indicators that are not good. We must not allow our country to be taken the road and path that some of our colleagues want us to take. Even before I go further, I would like to make reference to what most of my colleagues are referring to, that is Article 37 of the Constitution that gives freedom to picketing, demonstrations and associations. I read: “Every person has the right, peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities”. I hear my colleagues referring to their peaceful demonstrations that have been taking place elsewhere. It is high time this House classified stones as lethal weapons not to be carried by anyone who pretends to be taking part in a peaceful demonstration. When we talk about police intervening, our police are disciplined. As I have said, I have over 20 years of practising peace and looking for peace in the region. Our security service providers are one of the best. I dare say that some of the things we do in this country you cannot do them out there. Watch some of the actions by some security service providers from some of our neighbouring countries and you will see how they behave and what they do when people pretend to be demonstrating peacefully, but carrying weapons. I repeat that this House needs to classify stones as lethal weapons that should never be carried in pockets, socks or elsewhere to be used to destroy people’s property, which as we are all aware, are also protected under Article 40 of our Constitution. As a peace practitioner, I have also been very keen in watching the movement of our colleagues. I can say that there seems to be a very structured plan to cause chaos and mayhem in this country. I am hoping that out of this Motion, this House will come up with a solution that will protect this country from where I can see it going. This structured plan consists of people who are out there abusing others. It consists of people who are ready to provide legal services to anybody who is caught on the wrong side of the law. It consists of people who are planning and taking legal action, like we have seen being taken against some of our colleagues in constitutional institutions, some who are participating in demonstrations and some who are now coming to this House in turns. They come, they participate and then go for other assignments. This is a very dangerous trend in our country. I think it is high time we all sat and came up with a 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."
}