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{
"id": 960415,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/960415/?format=api",
"text_counter": 226,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13162,
"legal_name": "Moses Otieno Kajwang'",
"slug": "moses-otieno-kajwang"
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"content": "of every other country. However, this has not been the case in Kenya. I spent quite a few years in a neighboring country where, if you are a captain in the army, you are even more powerful than a Member of Parliament (MP). That is because the army is so entrenched in the politics and governance of that country. To our credit, our disciplined forces have allowed civilian rule and civil liberties to flourish in this country. Madam Temporary Speaker, I do not think that just happened by autopilot. I believe it is because of the dedication of those who had the opportunity to lead our disciplined forces from Independence to date. There were many cases where there were temptations by leaders of our disciplined forces to join politics. If we had to learn from Nigeria, where there have coups and counter coups, then our disciplined forces were not short of examples, even in our neighbouring countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Somalia. However, they kept their head high, remained focused and they have allowed us, Kenyans, to have some of the most liberal environments. Madam Temporary Speaker, those of us who were there during the previous Parliament will recall that there was a time during State events where the Head of State, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and the entire top brass of our disciplined forces, including the police and other civilian security apparatus, were present. We, however, exercised our right to protest and picket in Parliament, and it was called “ Firimbi Moment.” We blew whistles and carried placards in that House. At the end of that day, I went to my house and slept soundly, because no one followed and threatened me with the rest. There was no drama, unlike the drama we have been seeing of late. For once, there is peace in Kibera and disquiet in Murang’a. As political leaders, we need to ensure that officers of the disciplined forces are disciplined and stick to their lane; politicians in this country must also stick to their lane. I do not know what benefit we get by going back to the days of chaos that we saw during the pre and post-elections period. There is no value in this country when a television station with national circulation and viewership, spends 10 minutes to show how, in the entire country, fires are being lit in some dark alleys in Murang’a. There is no value when a television station decides to focus on a small group of young men and women – who have clearly been organized and mobilised to demonstrate and cause chaos – and project that as a crisis of national importance so that the nation can take note. Those are the kind of things which incite people to violence. Madam Temporary Speaker, I am glad that despite extreme pressures on the business community in Kisumu City caused by the demolition of business structures along the lake and the railway line, people have agreed to find a way of dealing with these issues amicably. They did this without uprooting the railway line, uprooting roads or causing violence. I am happy that despite the political situation in Kibra Constituency, where the political parties are now fighting for succession, we have seen that things can be done peacefully. In fact, there are people who are disappointed that political parties can hold nominations in Kibra Constituency without violence or people threatening to uproot the railway line that passes through Kibera. We are not supposed to be seeing some of the scenes of fire that we were treated to last night, since we have reached a point as a country, because our disciplined forces and security officers have done their bit. Even though sometimes they step out of line, they have, by and large, remained civil and organised. 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."
}