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"content": "that we, as their leaders, want to listen to them and to incorporate their thoughts in making decisions, which will eventually affect them. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, public participation has a number of benefits that we cannot ignore. One, it helps us sensitize the common man. I want us to go back to the time when we were coming up with the Constitution 2010. People were not really sensitized about the Constitution. There was a referendum and a lot of public participation concerning the Constitution and we got the blessings of the people. They are now happy because we are using the Constitution to help us to lead our people. Public participation is good because it gives the people enough time to put meaningful information into the decisions that will eventually be used upon them. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the buck of decision making stops with the people. Why? This is because in this Bill, we are supposed to involve them. After which we should use the ideas they give us in order to see how we are going to govern them. Therefore, when it comes to decision making, the buck stops with the people themselves. This country belongs to the people of Kenya and they are the ones who need to be at the centre stage of driving this Republic. Therefore, we, as leaders, cannot ignore this Bill because it seeks to help us to know what direction to take as we lead the people of this country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also like this Bill because it talks about the principles of public participation. The Bill states clearly that the public should have a say, for example, when you are coming up with a school, as a leader. Yes, you could be well- meaning, but if the people are not involved in the process of coming up with a school from the beginning, it will be unconstitutional. If they wake up one morning or after three months and they just find a school in their community, they will question it because you have not involved them. As a leader, the thought you had was probably well-meaning. However, when you forget the public, it will then raise eyebrows. Therefore, that principle is core and it is good to ensure that the public has a say in whatever project that leaders do. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, another thing I like about this Bill is that it has a principle of a promise. Yes, you meet the people and you promise them that you are going to incorporate their thoughts in decision making. That promise is very important because it becomes an anchor where people will say, we met our leader, this is what we agreed on and he has actually walked his talk. Public participation will help us, as leaders, to walk our talk. This is what the citizens of Kenya want to see; they want us to say and work. They do not want to just listen to us and then there is no work done afterwards. Feedback in public participation will make people know that we, as leaders, are walking our talk. Public participation is important because people will be given the information they need; and that is another principle that is very important. The people need to be given the information that they need. At one point, I said that it is a Constitutional principle that the people have a right to information. Therefore, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support this Bill that Sen. Wako has come up with. It is my desire that it becomes law, because leaders are going to be transparent 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."
}