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{
    "id": 789112,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/789112/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 71,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Simiyu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 141,
        "legal_name": "David Eseli Simiyu",
        "slug": "david-eseli"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this chance to also pass my individual condolences and on behalf of the people of Tongaren and the people of Bungoma County to the family of the late Kenneth Matiba. It is true to say that Kenneth Matiba has paid the ultimate price in trying to ensure there is democratisation of this country. He has not just paid with his life, he has also paid with his wealth in the sense that he went out of the norm. Being a fairly wealthy Kenyan, he got out of his comfort zone to risk life and limb to ensure that this country gets on the democratic path. It is not very easy. Many wealthy people would rather just complain about things and not do anything. In fact, they would rather just bury heads in the sand, but not Kenneth Matiba. This was a man who was even a sportsman. Therefore, he was a very fit person. That he got a stroke is very questionable. In fact, many of us at that time thought that perhaps that stroke was induced. We still have not learnt our lessons up to date. Recently, we saw Miguna Miguna removed from the airport under some drugging. That is dangerous. Those are the sort of things that lead to this kind of unexplained strokes. So, this country has not learnt a lesson yet. I agree with the Member for Kandara. What Julius Malema said, it applies in this case. I would disagree with those who say that we should not politicise. Those are just the plain truths. We need to face them as a country because we have had this problem. When there is a problem, we try to say forget and move on instead of solving the problem. We do not want a similar thing to ever happen again to a citizen of this country. As we mourn Mr. Matiba, we should realise that as Kenyans, we owe this country more than the country owes us. Matiba has paid the ultimate price. Many of us want to stay in our comfort zones. We do not want to point out mistakes when they occur because we feel that somebody should do it on our behalf yet eventually the laws affect all of us. The fight for multiparty democracy was led by Matiba, Rubia, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Masinde Muliro, guarded by the young tucks then; James Orengo, Paul Muite and others. They were able to risk everything that eventually led to the then President, who was a strong man, accepting that we should have multiparty democracy in this country. It is very telling. We need to soul-search as a nation. When we lose Mr. Matiba at this time, what is our democratic space like? Is it widening or shrinking? When we talk about the dictatorship that Matiba fought against and then you hear 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."
}