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{
    "id": 780967,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/780967/?format=api",
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    "content": "His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta was then sworn in on 28th November 2017, an event that triggered the call from the NASA supporters for H.E Raila Odinga to also be sworn in as the People’s President. With all preparations in place, we went ahead as NASA and H.E Raila Odinga also took oath of office as the People’s President on 30th January, 2018. These events left our country with a lot of uncertainty, deep ethnic divisions, a really polarised country and worst of all a battered economy. We want to address these fears, political divisions and ethnic hatred now. This is what we had in mind. Hon. Speaker, in all the instances where our country has experienced sharp political differences, the economy has been on a nosedive as compared to instances where the country has been united. Hon. Speaker, this is what we have in mind when we say we support the initiative by the two distinguished leaders, H.E Raila Odinga and H.E the President, Uhuru Kenyatta. It is without doubt for the common interest of Kenya and Kenyans. Hon. Speaker, so as we do not miss the point and assume that it is all about Raila Odinga, let me again remind this House that in 2003, the current President H.E Uhuru Kenyatta was the Leader of Official Opposition and the head of the Minority Party then, the Kenya African National Union (KANU). I think there is some luck in being the Hon. Leader of the Minority Party probably... The cooperation he gave the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) Government that year, led to the formation of a Government of National Unity in 2005, this supported the robust economic growth witnessed between 2003 and 2007. This is a clear show that when the whole country works together, we prosper. An all- inclusive process of governance has always been beneficial to the people of Kenya. This is what we have in mind, when we urge this House to support the initiative on ‘Building Bridges to a new Kenyan Nation’ Hon. Speaker, I wanted to touch briefly on the strategy of NASA before this historic event of last Friday. As the NASA Coalition, we had put in place elaborate strategies that would have seen us finally reach ‘Canaan’. We had formed People’s Assemblies in most of our counties which would have culminated into the National People’s Convention of about 10,000 delegates that would have brought together representatives from all counties including governors, Members of Parliament (MPs), leaders of Majority and Minority parties from the county assemblies, Members of County Assemblies (MCA) and speakers; the civil society, youth, women representatives, religious leaders among other Kenyans. The main agenda was to discuss ‘Project Kenya’ or ‘Which way Kenya’? The resolutions were to be brought to the National Assembly in form of a Bill and also to the county assemblies, processes that would have led to a referendum on amendment of the Constitution through popular initiative. However, where we are now I want to confirm today to this House that we have since suspended the People’s Assembly to give room to dialogue and in honour of our two leaders H.E the President Uhuru Kenyatta and H.E Raila Odinga by supporting their initiative on ‘Building Bridges to a new Kenyan Nation’. I salute the magnanimous statesmanship of the two leaders who have decided to come together to restore unity. The magical handshake on 9th March, 2018 has again renewed hope among Kenyans, and as evident from the political sentiments from both sides of the political divide, Kenya is headed in the right direction. I want to urge all leaders from all spheres of the society, but particularly the elected leaders and significantly Parliament to embrace this national project of healing and national reconciliation to foster commitment to national development. Hon. Members, our greatest glory The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}