Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 986397,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/986397/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 57,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wetangula",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 210,
        "legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
        "slug": "moses-wetangula"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, the distinguished Senator for Kitui County has brought a very important Statement. I congratulate the CS in the Ministry of Health because he has done a good job so far in updating Kenyans on the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, he has told Kenyans what and what not to do to avoid this pandemic. However, some of the measures must be taken within the context of the provisions of the Constitution and the law. We all know that towns like Kikuyu, Kiambu, Thika, Machakos, Kitengela up to Kajiado are the bedrooms of Nairobi. Many people work in Nairobi, but have opted to either buy or rent cheap property in those areas where they reside. The provision to lock off Nairobi was not well thought-out in terms of the inconvenience that is being caused to Kenyans who live and work in Nairobi from those areas or those who live in Nairobi and work in those areas. I encourage the Committee chaired by my distinguished nephew, the Senator for Nairobi City County, to not only concentrate on the issues that appeared in the preliminary Statement, but to look at the broader issues that are affecting Kenyans. For example, I have received a Petition from the youths in Bungoma Town stating that whenever it gets to 7.00 p. m., they are harassed by police officers. I was happy when the President apologized to Kenyans during a press briefing for the excesses that the police officers meted on Kenyans. When a Kenyan is found outside two or three minutes past 7.00 p.m. walking home, one would expect that the police officers would assist such individuals to get home safely not to be beaten thoroughly. What the police officers in Bungoma are doing is that as soon the clock hits 7.00 p.m., they walk around with whips and beat up the young people. I spoke with the County Commissioner this morning and cautioned him that what the police officers are doing is unacceptable so he has to bring them to order. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thought that the close down of the country by way of curfew was going to reduce criminal activities, but that has not been the case. In some areas, the crime rate has gone higher. In Bungoma County, robberies have been reported every night all the way from Bungoma Town to Chwele along the Kibabii University Road. People come dressed like police officers – I am not saying they are police – carrying guns in military fatigue and enter people’s homes and business premises and carry away whatever they find. This must also be dealt with. Mr. Speaker, Sir, finally, I urge Sen. Sakaja’s Committee to also note that a declaration of a curfew is synonymous constitutionally with a declaration of emergency. When an emergency is declared, the Constitution obligates the Executive to bring the matter, not to the National Assembly only, but to both Houses, to explain why, the duration and limitations of the rights of the citizens, within this period. I am not aware of any time the Executive has come to any House of Parliament to explain the process of this curfew and the degree to which the rights of Kenyans have"
}