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{
    "id": 785966,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/785966/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 237,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Wanjira",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 769,
        "legal_name": "Jane Agnes Wanjira Machira",
        "slug": "jane-agnes-wanjira-machira"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I want to appreciate the Bill of Rights in our Constitution. In fact, we are one of the most progressive countries in terms of an expansive and well drafted Bill of Rights. But if you read Article 27 of the Constitution, it talks to peaceful and unarmed demonstrations. Those of us who also read, even if we were not there in the 1990s, what we are witnessing in the new Kenya today is different from what was witnessed during that time. Demonstrations nowadays are being used as tools of economic sabotage. They are being used as tools of just causing inconvenience for the sake of looking for attention. That is exactly what has necessitated this Motion. Even as we celebrate the handshake, it is quite an expensive handshake. Why? Because for it to even get there, it took lives being lost. It took the economy crawling literally just because we want the world to know so that we can have a case, just because we feel we want to catch the attention of other people. That has to stop. It may not be an easy thing to do, but it is necessary. Demonstrations that were there in the 1990s and yesteryears are not the same today. Today we just want to use this to just cause chaos. I want to refer to the whole of last year: There is little business that was done in this country. Why? Because one person felt he is not happy with an election. The same person who has now said we have buried the hatchet left many people dead and others disillusioned. Many businesses collapsed. That cannot be allowed and it cannot continue being encouraged just because of the Bill of Rights. If you infringe on my own rights then it is unconstitutional. Your rights end where mine begin. It cannot be so absolute that you can trample on my rights and I am not supposed to say anything. Where are my rights as a business person who is making an honest living in Nairobi or Kisumu or Mombasa or wherever else? Where are those people to protect those rights? I have heard Hon. Mbui, but I have not seen a stone thrower who is a policeman. I have only seen demonstrators who are throwing stones to the police officers. That has gone on for so long. We have lost lives and it cannot just be left to be free for all. There must be a control. The reason I support this Motion is that we may not be able to implement it in the rural areas but at least in the main cities. This must be put into perspective. In most of the developed countries, even when there is unrest, protests or impeachment of a sitting president or prime minister, you will be surprised to see people demonstrating in one corner as business continues. They will also get the attention they wish from the media and everyone else. This can also be done here, Uhuru Park or, those areas that have a history of the era when we fought for the freedom we enjoy today. The gazettement will also come to this House in terms of regulations because anything else that would be done… I am imagining this will also affect some of the few Bills and Acts that we have like the Cities and Urban Areas Act. If that happens, the regulations will come to the Committee on Delegated Legislation of this very honourable House so that they interrogate them. It should not inconvenience the rights of other people who are honestly making their living, trying to provide for their children and enjoying some rights which are also embedded in the same Constitution. 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."
}