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{
    "id": 97866,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/97866/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 258,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Mudavadi",
    "speaker_title": "The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 84,
        "legal_name": "Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi",
        "slug": "musalia-mudavadi"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other point that I would want to touch on is the issue of whether or not this is a Government project. This is something that we really need to clarify and be honest on. I think to the extent of ensuring that resources are available to the various agencies that are conducting the referendum, including the IIEC, Committee of Experts or security agencies that will provide security in those areas, that is Government responsibility. That should be a distinction between Government responsibility and a Government project. I think people have been deliberately toying around with what is Government responsibility and Government project. This is Government responsibility. This House passed the Budget to make sure that resources will be made available to these institutions. Now, it is the responsibility of the Treausry, that is, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Finance, to make sure that those institutions that are going to conduct this election, provide security and so forth, and are funded appropriately. So, that is discharging Government responsibility, but it is not a Government project. So, this is the distinction that I would really want Kenyans to appreciate because there is a lot of misinterpretation, obviously for political gains. But I am sure Kenyans are much wiser than we intend to imagine sometimes. So, I think this issue should be put to rest. Just because we have a referendum on the way, the Ministers who are either campaigning in the No or Yes camps have not ceased to be Government Ministers. So, naturally, they still have to be accorded their protection by virtue of that status. If it can be understood in that context, then one will realize that this is not a misuse of Government resources. If I ceased to be a Minister, then naturally I cannot use a Government or Ministerial vehicle to move out there. I would have to dig into my pocket. That is the reality of it. So, we have to also send that message and I hope hon. Isaac Ruto will appreciate this because we have been down this road together with him a number of times."
}