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{
    "id": 789396,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/789396/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 33,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "in alive---. The late hon. Matiba died just last week. If you were to find out what people said about him even a year ago, you would be shocked. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in our national ethos and political culture, we must begin to appreciate people while they are alive. I can tell you that the late hon. Matiba was one of the people who were not tribalist right from his days in school, in the Public Service, the way he managed football and rose in Government, including becoming a Cabinet Minister. I remember when we were backbenchers and he was a Minister, he would call us with hon. Koigi wa Wamwere and many others and say: “You are not saying enough about what is going on in the Government. You should speak louder.” He was saying that not because he was against that Government, but wanted the right thing to be done. What do we do in these circumstances? I think something different must happen with the death of the late hon. Matiba. The other day when Winnie Mandela also died, similar views were expressed about what people do after the death of a great person, which they could have done earlier. I would say that in the spirit of what is happening in the country today, one of the things that this Government should do - because it is a successor of all the governments - is to have a national apology to the family of the late Matiba over what happened to them. That would be worth more than a billion shillings you would pay to them. The Government should say that what happened was wrong and should not have happened. Secondly, some of the people who tortured the late hon. Matiba and put him in that situation are still alive and are known today. They are not necessarily people who come from where you would think. They are people from all over. If we check from the prison records on what happened to the late hon. Matiba during detention, I think impunity must be punished and those people made to--- Paying compensation to the late hon. Matiba is not enough. The people who were responsible of reducing a man, who was an athlete and lived a live I can never live because he never drank alcohol throughout his life---. I remember when we went to his mansion in Tigoni, he had an understanding even with his family that he could not smoke anywhere in the house. He had a smoking room in the family house, which was the only place he was allowed to smoke. Many Africans are not taught the habit of not interfering with other family members. This is just like the case of the late Msando. I am told the police know who killed him. These people should be punished if we are truly honest about what we are doing and in sending our condolences. Without taking too much time, I would say that Kenya has lost one of her greatest sons who was appreciated all over the world. We worked with him. I remember when Jaramogi had a lot of problems here; he was being persecuted and taken to court. I was called to London by Mr. Matiba and he looked for the Queen’s Counsel to come and represent Mr. Odinga at that time. Despite the fact that there were political differences emerging, he felt he should do something for his brother at that time. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am glad that you have appointed tomorrow for the Senate to visit his family. I truly appreciate what you are organising and I hope all the members from both sides of the House will join you in going to see the family tomorrow. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}