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{
    "id": 904325,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/904325/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 64,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Orengo",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Minority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 129,
        "legal_name": "Aggrey James Orengo",
        "slug": "james-orengo"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I also join the distinguished Senator for Bungoma County in expressing my condolences to the family of the late Oduya Oprong‘ and the people of Busia. I thank Sen. Sakaja for hosting us to see the family of the late Oduya Oprong‘. It was quite a visit. The comments that were made by the family and friends were touching. Mr. Speaker, Sir, if there was a true Kenyan patriot, the late hon. Oduya Oprong‘ was one of them. It is in this House that Jaramogi Oginga Odinga talked about the release of Jomo Kenyatta. ‗No independence without Jomo Kenyatta‘. One of the leaders who really spearheaded the campaign for the release of Jomo Kenyatta was Oduya Oprong‘. As a mark of gratitude for Oduya Oprong‘, when Jomo Kenyatta came out of prison, the first rally he addressed in what is now Western Province, was in Malaba. Also, at that time, it was possible for a Member to cross the Floor and join the opposite party if he or she disagreed with a party. In March 1966, Oduya Oprong‘ was one of the more than 80 Members of Parliament who crossed the Floor to join Kenya People‘s Union (KPU). When Kenya African National Union (KANU) brought an amendment that Members were to face re- election for them to properly cross the Floor and remain in the new party, Oduya Oprong‘ was one of the few who were elected to remain with the new party, the KPU. When he went back to his constituency and fought for re-election, he was one of the few MPs who succeeded in coming back to Parliament as a Member of the KPU. However, the friendship that he had with the nationalists, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Jomo Kenyatta and other patriots like the ones I have mentioned went on throughout his life. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am glad that His Excellency the President has sent his condolences for the loss of this great patriot. However, to me Oduya Oprong‘ taught me one thing; that in leadership, it is always good to stand for matters of principle and the truth. If there is anything to emulate about him, it is his principled stand on any issue. The debates in the National Assembly at the time would count on his strength and the commitment to issues of principle. In fact, despite the fact that he had a good relationship with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Jomo Kenyatta, there is an incident where he went with Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga to an event in Machakos. The late President Jomo Kenyatta gave a contribution to an impromptu harambee . Those were the days when the harambees were not a matter of standard practice as they are today. The President gave his contribution in Machakos and asked his Vice President to contribute, similarly. Then, he called upon Members of Parliament (MPs) who were there, including Hon. Oduya Oprong‘, to give their contributions. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}