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{
    "id": 924095,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/924095/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 484,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ochillo-Ayacko",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 347,
        "legal_name": "Ochilo George Mbogo Ayacko",
        "slug": "ochilo-ayacko"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to add accolades to this distinguished Kenyan. We are enjoying relative tranquility in this country. We are a nation on the march, and I believe we are marching to Canaan and utopia. Currently, the “Handshake” is taking us there. We believe that this journey to Canaan was started by great people in this nation. Most of them have passed on, and we hope that they are resting happily with the Lord. Madam Temporary Speaker, the gentleman we are discussing today, is the one in whose name a Motion to name a university after. The Motion has been brought by Sen. Mwaura, who is my very good friend and a good person. In my other life, when I had the power of the pen as an officer of the State, I was establishing an institution and Sen. Mwaura happened to have been a distinguished person. I got him nominated to that institution and he did not let me down. It appears that in his usual kindness and generosity, he has not forgotten other people who have made a mark in this nation and contributed to what we are enjoying presently. If you look at our Constitution, you will find an Article that says Kenya shall be a multiparty state. Most of the Senators here today, save for Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri and perhaps other Members of Parliament I may not name, may not have served under Kenya African National Union (KANU) as a single party. Most Senators today would not even be in this House if we had a single party. If it was not for Hon. Matiba and other heroes, such as the late Hon. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, the late Hon. Masinde Muliro and the late Hon. Martin Shikuku, we would not be eligible for election today. I, personally, would have failed the loyalty test because I would, definitely, not have been loyal to KANU. I also had the fortune of serving in this Parliament when Moi was the President and found it difficult to agree with a few of the policies that were being espoused by KANU. That is not to mean that KANU was an entirely bad organization. If it was, it would not have brought forth such distinguished leaders like Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri. He served with people such as Hon. Matiba in the same KANU. He also served with Hon. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, as a founder of KANU, and other distinguished persons. I believe that the dictates of that particular time necessitated the political philosophy that was being pursued then. Madam Temporary Speaker, hon. Matiba must be cheered for having noticed that pluralism and diversity, in terms of ideas, was a notion that had gained currency; was momentous and had to be embedded in our Constitution. It is, therefore, important to acknowledge that his fight, resilience and voice gave this nation an opportunity to have diversity in leadership in a constitutional setting, and in this House. That is why we are here today. 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."
}