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{
    "id": 785957,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/785957/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 228,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Oundo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13331,
        "legal_name": "Wilberforce Ojiambo Oundo",
        "slug": "wilberforce-ojiambo-oundo-2"
    },
    "content": "The framers of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 were people of good faith, good meaning Kenyans who knew exactly where we were coming from and where they intended to take this country. When they inserted Article 37 that allowed for freedom of expression, the right to picket and demonstrate, they were not doing it out of malice or ignorance; they knew where we have come from. For record purposes, if by any chance we did not have demonstrations whether violent or not, we would not be talking about the freedom we enjoy today. Those of us who were around in the 1990s when Hon. Kenneth Matiba, Hon. Shikuku, Hon. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Rubia and the rest took to the streets of Nairobi to demonstrate for reinstatement of multiparty politics would be ashamed to listen to any Member of Parliament, in this Parliament today who would surely stand up and support such a draconian Motion to basically curtail that freedom, we have yearned and looked for many years. The purpose of a demonstration, picketing and any formal action is to draw the attention of people, the world and the oppressors to the plight of the people who suffer in this country. To even imagine and think that we can designate special places to picket and demonstrate is to lose the essence of Article 37 of this Constitution. We have seen it in this country that whoever is charged with the responsibility of designating places for demonstration can take us to Mau Forest, Karura Forest and probably the Department of Defence (DOD). What stops him? Honestly speaking, this is a bad Motion to this country and any attempt to implement it is unconstitutional. The framers of the Constitution were very clear that the right to picket is enshrined in the Constitution. The right to protest against an injustice is enshrined in the Constitution. We cannot have any other way out. I want to say this for record purposes and I want to probably sympathize with Hon. Angwenyi for the inconvenience he went through. Those people who are demonstrating were protesting against an inconvenience and an injustice."
}