Rt. Hon.(Eng) Raila Amolo Odinga

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 301 to 310 of 1732.

• 14 Mar 2012 in National Assembly: By Gazette Notice Number 12585 dated 18th of October, 2010, the Minister of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security declared the MRC, alongside 32 other groups, to be organized criminal groups under the Prevention of Organized Crimes Act, 2010. I will table a copy of the Gazette Notice. Section 22 (1) and (2) of the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act, 2010 provides that:- view
• 14 Mar 2012 in National Assembly: “Where the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that a specified group is engaged in any organized criminal activity under section 3 of this Act, he may, by notice, declare that specified group as an organized criminal group for the purposes of this Act. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Minister under this section may apply to the High Court for redress within twenty one days from the date of publishing the order.” view
• 14 Mar 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, on 2nd December, 2010, the MRC filed Civil Case No. 468/2010 at the High Court in Mombasa seeking a declaration that the banning of the MRC contravened the Constitution of Kenya, which guarantees freedom of assembly and association. The MRC also obtained court orders on 15th December, 2010, restraining the Government security agencies from interfering with its activities until the case is heard and fully determined. The MRC has, also, by a notice dated 26th November, 2010, addressed to the Government of Kenya, indicated its intention to sue the Government at the International Court of Justice at ... view
• 14 Mar 2012 in National Assembly: In view of the pending court proceedings, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I will refrain from commenting any further on the legal status of the MRC. view
• 14 Mar 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, key amongst our national values and principles of governance under Article 10 of the new Constitution are: people participation in the affairs of the State; inclusiveness; protection of the marginalized; equity and social justice. These values and principles make engagement with any segment of the population on matters affecting their interests or those of the nation as a whole a mandatory constitutional process. The Government’s official position is, therefore, to engage with the MRC or any other group in addressing their grievances. Such engagement must, of course, bear full and complete respect to our Constitution and other ... view
• 14 Mar 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, the MRC’s list of grievances include perceived marginalization of indigenous coastal people in employment and business opportunities, loss of land due to irregular and illegal title deeds, selective issuance of title deeds to non-indigenous coastal people at the Coast to the exclusion of indigenous coastal people; harassment and arbitrary arrest of its members and perceived insensitivity by the Government to the genuine grievances of the indigenous coastal people. view
• 14 Mar 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, official statistics tend to buttress some of these grievances. For example, the Integrated Household Budget Survey of 2007 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics ranks the coastal region below all former provinces, except the former North Eastern in terms of rural poverty. The same survey indicates that urban poverty in Mombasa is higher than in the other major cities in Kenya. Of the top 15 poorest districts in Kenya, four, namely Tana River, Malindi, Kwale and Kilifi, are in the coastal region. Underemployment amongst the youth in the coastal region is amongst the highest in Kenya. Other ... view
• 14 Mar 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, though the MRC describes itself as a social movement and professes not to be a political party, not a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and not an armed gang, it has embraced some campaign slogans and tactics that compromise its professed character. The slogan “ Pwani Si Kenya ” connotes agitation for secession, which is a direct violation of Articles 3 and 5 of our Constitution and our territorial integrity and the laid down constitutional process of establishing lawful government in Kenya. The campaign by the MRC for coastal people to boycott both voter registration and voting in elections ... view
• 14 Mar 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, the targeting of so-called “Watu Wa Bara” or Upcountry People through hostile pamphlets and speeches undermine our national cohesion and violate Articles 27, 28, 29 and 40 of our Constitution, amongst others relating to equality and freedom from discrimination, human dignity, security of persons, protection of right to property and the right to reside freely in any part of Kenya. The Government is alive to the risk that the MRC’s genuine grievances may be hijacked for radicalization by external forces such as Al Shabaab . view
• 14 Mar 2012 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, the grievances being articulated by the MRC can only be addressed within an atmosphere of peace, stability, rule of law and greater democracy, transparency and accountability in our governance. The new Constitution presents the best framework for addressing these grievances by way of devolution, that is in Article 6 and Chapter Eleven, equitable sharing of national revenues amongst the 47 counties, that is in Article 218; use of Equalization Fund to provide infrastructure in marginalized areas, that is in Article 204; affording adequate and equal opportunities for employment at all levels of public service for members of all ... view