October 23, 2014 SENATE DEBATES Thursday, 23rd October, 2014

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the House:-

The Report on the meeting of the steering Committee on the African Parliamentary Network Development and Evaluation held on 25th to 26th September, 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion:- THAT, aware that devolution is the transfer of functions, resources and power to the sub-national levels of government in order to promote participation, democracy and sustainable development for the benefit of all citizens of Kenya; noting that pre-primary education, village polytechnics, homecraft centres and childcare facilities are devolved functions; concerned that the Department of Education still upholds the historical classification of secondary schools into national, provincial and district; cognizant of the fact that such categorization has implications in terms of funding, administration and eventually academic performance; appreciating that in a devolved system, counties will play a big role in the educational outcomes of their counties and that the current classification

nationally; the Senate urges the Department of Education to take immediate action to review the categorization of secondary schools as national, provincial or district schools and instead rename all secondary schools as county schools.

Order Members! Given the nature of that particular matter of the Motion by the Senate Minority Leader, I would like us to dispose it today. So, we will allocate time from 5.30 to 6.30 pm. Sen. Wetangula has petitioned that he will be representing the Senate at another meeting at that particular time and also given that the House must address itself to this matter, I will allocate one hour after the end of Statements.

Next Order!

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on 1st October, 2014, I had requested a Statement from the Standing Committee on Health on the status of the drugs that were destroyed at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) which were meant to treat type II diabetes in children. It was due this week, maybe I could get a status on the same from the Committee.

Is the Chair of the Committee, the Vice Chair or any Member of the Committee in the House?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am a member of the Committee on Health and I have taken note of what Sen. Wangari has said, I will put it to the Chair when he turns up.

Order, Sen. Nabwala. Membership of a Committee for an old matter like this one cannot be for you just to be a bearer of news. You need to tell us whether you considered it or not.

We have deliberated on the matter but the Statement is with the Chair.

Can you commit him to bring the Statement on Tuesday? Failure to do so, you will bring it yourself.

Sen. Wetangula!

THAT, recognizing the role played by Prof. Ali Mazrui in the pre and post-independent east of Africa; noting that Prof. Ali. Mazrui who was born in Mombasa--- Sen. Wetangula, what are you doing?

I am moving the Motion. The Speaker said after Statements and I thought there were no more Statements.

I said after Statements, but I did not say you should move the Motion. You had indicated that you wanted to request to move the Motion and I also know that you have a Statement.

The Senate Minority Leader (Sen. Wetangula) : So, have you called me under Statements?

Yes, but I have not called out the next Order. The Senate Minority Leader (Sen. Wetangula) : Okay.

Proceed.

So, have you called me under Statements? Yes, but I have not called out the next Order. The Senate Minority Leader (

It is so granted.

Okay.

Proceed.

Chairperson, Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries?

October 23, 2014 SENATE DEBATES FOOD SHORTAGE IN THE NORTH RIFT

Two weeks is okay. Sen. Kembi-Gitura, do you have an intervention?

Yes, Mr. Speaker, Sir. It is on the issue of Statements. Let Sen. Gwendo proceed, then I will give you a chance.

We can respond to that matter in two weeks time.

Two weeks is okay. Sen. Kembi-Gitura, do you have an intervention?

Chairperson of the Committee?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, pursuant to Standing Order No.45, I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Committee on Land and Natural Resources regarding the plight of farmers in Nyamthowi, Kolwa Central Location, Kisumu East Constituency. The area in question is a wetland that was converted to community land. There is no title deed to the land even though it is very fertile and arable whereby once it rains, the top soil is eroded from Rift Valley regions and settles in the area. However, it also floods thereby destroying crops.

Farmers have been trying to farm beans, kales, maize and other products but have not been reaping benefits due to perennial flooding. There is also a poor road network and rampant attacks by hippos on the farms that eat up most of their produce. Agriculture being at the heart of farmers in this area, I would like to know what the Government is doing in regard to the following:-

Mr. Speaker, Sir, my request is for four weeks but should we have the Statement ready even in two weeks, then we will notify the Chair and be allocated time to issue it.

I think Sen. Gwendo will appreciate that you need to work across Ministries because of the cross-cutting nature of the issues raised. Therefore, four weeks will be okay but if you can also demonstrate your commitment by doing it sooner the better.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, although the Statement is directed to my Committee, you notice that it is cross-cutting. The Senator wants to know some issues about the road network and about the control of hippos by the KWS. It is a cross-cutting Statement and we will need to consult other Ministries which are not under our purview. We will therefore ask for four weeks to come up with a comprehensive Statement.

What is your reaction, Sen. Gwendo?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would rather work with three weeks.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, my request is for four weeks but should we have the Statement ready even in two weeks, then we will notify the Chair and be allocated time to issue it.

I think Sen. Gwendo will appreciate that you need to work across Ministries because of the cross-cutting nature of the issues raised. Therefore, four weeks will be okay but if you can also demonstrate your commitment by doing it sooner the better.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, we were engaged in a very crucial consultation on matters affecting the future of this House and how we need to proceed on a number of issues while proceeding for a serious discussion in Mombasa. I want to apologize but we were doing a great service to this great House.

Except that there are no threats to the future of this House. So, you can only be imagining your own wild things to the extent that you are denying us the present as you think of a future that is not threatened.

Hon. Senators, I want to remind you that when a Statement is addressed to you, you should be attentive and other colleagues in the neighbourhood should also intervene.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am happy that you have told Senators to take the work of the House seriously. In or about June this year, I had sought a Statement on the escalating interest rates in this country which are affecting development nationally and in the counties. A Statement was issued by the Chairman but it was not sufficient. Therefore, the House requested further details or a

Mr. Speaker, Sir, my apologies. I missed the question. I want to seek your indulgence because the hon. Senator for Nandi had engaged me in consultations. I would appreciate if the matter is repeated.

You need to do better than that, Sen. Billow. It is not just good enough to apologize. The House also demands an apology from Sen. Sang for engaging the Chair.

Treasury issued a fresh Statement giving details and I was given a copy.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I know the Statement came in August this year. Since that time, I have been asking for the Statement to be issued because it is the property of the House but it has not been issued. I am seeking your direction as to when the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Billow, can issue the Statement.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, we have seen that Statement and our Committee has looked at it but we are not satisfied. Treasury has actually failed this country because, pursuant to a presidential directive in February this year, they set up a team of experts including the private sector that came up with a formula that would result in lower interest rates. Today, there is no significant reduction. What we decided yesterday is to have the Minister appear before the Committee next week to shed light on the progress since that new formula was set up to address the concerns of Members.

It is not only that, there are other topical issues linked to this one including the exchange rates. After the sovereign bond, instead of the rates going down when we got US$2 billion, the rates rose from US$87 to US$91. Therefore, I have requested to give an answer in two weeks time from today. In shaa Allah.

You are not entitled,

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am a Member of the Committee but sometimes because of other duties, I miss meetings. I want to urge the Chairman in furtherance of the distinguished Senator for Murang’a’s request, we have a law in this country which says that banks cannot charge interest rates to loans payable to exceed the amount that was borrowed, that is, the in duplum rule. We passed that law under the watch of hon. David Mwiraria. I want the Chairman to pursue that point to augment the good issue that the distinguished Senator for Murang’a has brought up so that the public is advised that if one borrows Kshs10,000 even if one defaults he or she cannot pay more than Kshs20,000 on that loan. That is what the rule says, but people are paying up to 20 times and end up being auctioned and humiliated.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, that is a very welcome intervention. I strongly support the request for additional information because that law is there. The famous Donde Act on the in duplum rule is there and therefore, we will get further clarification on why the Government is unable to implement some of the provisions of the Banking Act. When it comes to the banking community, Treasury seems to have challenges in implementing the law including the hidden charges by banks.

Mr. Chairman, you have mentioned to us about next week, so we expect the report in two weeks time.

You are not entitled,

Mr. Speaker, Sir, since you have ordered, I will accept two weeks because it is an important issue. I would like to remind the Chairman that one of the issues to be clarified by Treasury is the issue raised by Sen. Wetangula. I would like the Chairman to interrogate the Cabinet Secretary on all these issues and come up with a very comprehensive answer. Last week, Sen. Murungi, the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries convened a very important meeting of all stakeholders in the tea industry. What continues coming up is that with lower and lower bonuses being paid to tea farmers, more and more of them are very likely to go bankrupt because they owe money to banks, lend on account of tea sales and if they do not get due income from tea sales and the banks deduct them at source, then the tea farmer is going to be left with nothing, rendering him or her bankrupt, children not going to school, being unable to service the loans and banks not taking into account the in duplum rule.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, that is a very welcome intervention. I strongly support the request for additional information because that law is there. The famous Donde Act on the in duplum rule is there and therefore, we will get further clarification on why the Government is unable to implement some of the provisions of the Banking Act. When it comes to the banking community, Treasury seems to have challenges in implementing the law including the hidden charges by banks.

Mr. Chairman, you have mentioned to us about next week, so we expect the report in two weeks time.

Thank you Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise under Standing Order No. 45 to briefly give the Business of the Senate for the week beginning 28th October, 2014.

On Tuesday next week, there will be the usual meeting of the Rules and Business Committee (RBC) of this House and subject to the directions of the RBC, the Senate will continue with business that will not be concluded in today’s Order Paper including the debate on various Bills that are going through the Second Reading.

On Tuesday 28th October 2014, next week, we are going to have the Public Finance Management Bill being considered by the Committee of the Whole. So I take this opportunity to appeal to the Majority and the Minority Whips to remind all Senators to be present on Tuesday next week so that we can achieve the required threshold to dispose of the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill which will be coming for Third Reading before a Committee of the Whole.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on Wednesday the Senate will continue with the business not concluded on Tuesday and it will consider any other business scheduled by RBC, including the following Motions:-

Thank you Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise under Standing Order No. 45 to briefly give the Business of the Senate for the week beginning 28th October, 2014.

On Tuesday next week, there will be the usual meeting of the Rules and Business Committee (RBC) of this House and subject to the directions of the RBC, the Senate will continue with business that will not be concluded in today’s Order Paper including the debate on various Bills that are going through the Second Reading.

On Tuesday 28th October 2014, next week, we are going to have the Public Finance Management Bill being considered by the Committee of the Whole. So I take this opportunity to appeal to the Majority and the Minority Whips to remind all Senators to be present on Tuesday next week so that we can achieve the required threshold to dispose of the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill which will be coming for Third Reading before a Committee of the Whole.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on Wednesday the Senate will continue with the business not concluded on Tuesday and it will consider any other business scheduled by RBC, including the following Motions:-

What about the timings?

Proceed,

October 23, 2014 SENATE DEBATES TRIBUTE TO THE LATE PROF. ALI MAZRUI

Let us do a maximum of one and a half hours.

What about the timings?

Proceed,

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to Move:-

become one of the greatest scholars, not on the African Continent, but globally. His writings, public lectures, speeches and achievements are distinguishable from any other. I personally came into contact with Prof. Ali Mazrui when I started reading his writings while in Form Two and they were very prolific. His writings were so moving that when you started reading, you were unlikely to put down what you were reading. His book on Heroes and Uhuru Worship was a must read at our “A” levels for anybody who wanted to broaden their mind.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, one may recall that when Prof. Mazrui was in Uganda and Iddi Amin unlawfully took over the leadership of the country, he singularly challenged the morality, legality and the manner in which the dictator was running the country. In fact, he published an article that read: “Politics without morality leads to corruption and confusion.” On that note, Iddi Amin sent him out of Uganda in six hours and he left Makerere. Being the distinguished scholar he was, he could never lack a place to go to pursue his scholarly works. Prof. Mazrui used to give public lectures at The University of Nairobi, which was then the only university. The bookings to attend his lecture were massive. I remember at one time when I was in Form Six, we were ferried from Friends School Kamusinga to come and attend a Mazrui lecture. We had to do a booking for only 10 seats one month in advance. I have never regretted listening to him on that day.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, you may recognize that at the dawn of Independence when we had intellectually driven Heads of State in Africa; Mwalimu Nyerere and Milton Obote in particular, Prof. Ali Mazrui used to go to Makerere and Dar es Salaam universities and engaged these Heads of State in public debate. Everybody used to see the value of this kind of intellectual orientation. Unfortunately for Prof. Ali Mazrui, like we say, many prophets are never recognized in their homes. You will find that all the acknowledgement and honour given to Prof. Ali Mazrui, his country of origin never recognized him until very late in the day. You may recall that the Government of Kenya once invited Prof. Mazrui to come to the country through the university, I believe, for some academic discourse. But because of what he said that rattled the Government of the day, he was evicted from the Intercontinental Hotel here and sent out of his own country to go back to America, where he was teaching. It is a bit of a shame; a shame that we collectively carry as a country for not recognizing our distinguished sons.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I salute the immediate former President, hon. Mwai Kibaki. When he came to power, he quickly noticed and recognized the value of using distinguished and accomplished intellectuals in running our public universities. That is the time we stopped having the President as the know-it-all Chancellor of every university in the land; professor number one, mkulima number one and everything number one. Hon. Mwai Kibaki relinquished the position of Chancellor of every public university and that is when Prof. Ali Mazrui, for the very first time in his life, was honoured in his country. He was appointed the Chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). He did a sterling job even in old age as his health looked like it was deteriorating.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, through his scholarship, we are talking of a man who was rated among the world’s top 100 public intellectuals by readers of Prospect Magazine of the United Kingdom (UK), which is a foreign policy magazine of Washington. Being among

Sen. (Prof) Kindiki.

his work, legacy and respect will live on. I remember when I was growing up, due to my tremendous admiration of Prof. Ali Mazrui, I nicknamed my own kid brother, who is a Member of Parliament for Westlands, hon.Tim Wanyonyi Wetangula, Ali Mazrui. In our family, we still call him Ali Mazrui in honour of this great man.

This Senate enjoins the family, the people of Kenya, particularly the residents of Mombasa County where he was born, grew up and outgrew Mombasa but remained rooted in Mombasa. We join them in passing our condolences as a Senate. We eulogize him as a great man, a great scholar and distinguished citizen of the world. We hope that Kenya will produce many more like Mazrui.

Remember that Mazrui is a lesson in history that a setback in early stages in school should never stop you from achieving your goals and dreams. Prof. Mazrui did not get a Division I or II at Form Four. However, he rose to speak for the world to the extent that one time, I met a colleague from the United Kingdom (UK), a former foreign minister, who told me: “I have listened to a Kenyan man called Mazrui. He speaks better English than we the English.” That is the man we are talking about.

When he stood up to speak, even if you did not like what he was saying, you could not fail to admire how he was saying it. This is the art of intellectualism. That is why we lawyers say, you must be heard and I will also hear you even if I do not like what you are saying. Ali Mazrui is a son of this country that we are all proud of, and we must eulogize, remember, respect and urge the upcoming intellectuals not just to be men of letters but to write distinguishable, acknowledgeable and respectable materials that help the generations to come. A hundred years down the line, we shall read Mazrui the way we are reading Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Chinua Achebe and everybody else who has distinguished themselves that way.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, finally, you remember the famous book by Mazrui, The Trial of Christopher Okigbo, a distinguished scholar who abandoned scholarship to go and fight in the Biafra War and how he agonized in Mazrui’s mind what he was doing, whether it was right or wrong, at his trial. It takes a genius to produce that kind of imagination from a real situation.

As I finish, I stand here to send my personal condolences and thank the people of Mombasa County for giving Kenya the privilege to own Mazrui who was born among them. This is a man who was born in tremendous privilege and wealth, but lived an ordinary life because of pursuit of scholarship, human dignity, human equality, true and meaningful democracy, respect and equality of religions and ideals of Africa. He stood and said that the rape of Africa has gone on for too long and it has to come to an end. Africa’s rape will not end by the benevolence of the rapists. It will end by the resolution to fight, resist and protect our integrity, our resources and our image as a people.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, that is the man we are eulogizing, the great son of this country. I invite my distinguished colleague from Tharaka-Nithi County, The Senate Majority Leader (Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki, to second this Motion.

Thank you.

Mazrui. I doubt if 10 minutes can be enough.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I met Ali Mazrui twice in my life. Those two meetings took 14 years in between. The first time I met him, I was a doctorate student at the University of Pretoria, finalizing my Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). That was the time when the world was finalizing discussions around the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Two panelists were called to talk to us about their perspectives on the ICC. One of them was Prof. David Shafer, professor of International Law and former Ambassador- at-Large on war crimes and crimes against humanity. The second panelist was Prof. Ali Mazrui. That was my first encounter with an intelligent, proud African, a very sober and balanced intellectual.

I must admit that at that time, I was an ardent supporter of the formation of the ICC. I had even started doing a bit of academic writing because I believed and I still believe that there is need for an international judicial system. During that time, Prof. Mazrui did not agree with my world view. At that time, I belonged to a school of thought of the likes of Prof. David Schafer, the American Ambassador-at-Large for war crimes and crimes against humanity. At that time, I believed that the ICC was necessary to tame small countries like Kenya and others from the brutality that leaders mete on their citizens. I still believe that the ICC has a role to play in Africa. That time, Mazrui still believed that there was need for that kind of system but it must be tamed so that it does not become rogue and oppress poor countries including African countries. It is now 15 years down the line, Mazrui has been proven right and I have been proven wrong.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the second meeting was just a year ago at Moi International Airport Mombasa. Mazrui was leaving Mombasa going back to the United States (US). I had a chit-chat with him at the VIP lounge. I could see a man who has run a full course; a proud Kenyan, proud African and unapologetic, in charge of his destiny, an intellectual, who had accomplished and does not need to shout about it. We had a chit-chat and I promised that if I got time I would visit the USA and maybe have a moment to imbibe part of his vast intellectual resources.

It is sad that he never lived to see that third meeting but I am here today to say that what Mazrui has done is to make the dignity of the African man entrenched in posterity. He has shown that an African can rise to the highest level of intellectual success. He has shown that an African scholar can succeed anywhere in the world. That is something that our children and grandchildren should be able to live with and build on.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, today, I feel so sad but at the same time I feel so proud that Mazrui has given us the kind of dignity that he has left behind especially for those of us who are in academia. Words will fail me to eulogize him enough. May I take this opportunity to say on my behalf, on behalf of my family, the people of Tharaka-Nithi County and on behalf of the Jubilee Coalition, for whom I speak in this House, to send my condolences to the family of Mazrui, his uncles, nephews, his teachers, neighbours and everyone who had a part in raising Mazrui and making him what he was. May his soul rest in peace in eternity and may God bless him; God bless Kenya; God bless Africa.

Thank you.

Thank you Mr. Speaker, Sir. I take this opportunity to thank the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Wetangula, for bringing

Huo ni uchokozi, Bw. Spika.

Asante Bw. Spika kwa kunipa wasaa ili niangaze mawazo yangu kwa maisha ya msomi huyu wa Kenya. Kifo ni kudra ya Mungu na kila mtu ni kaburi; yule atakayebahatika kuipata. Wengine hawatapata kaburi kwa sababu watakufa vifo vya ajabu. Sisi twamsifu Mungu kwa maisha ya msomi huyu wa Kenya aliyezaliwa, kukuzwa na kupata nafasi ya kuishi miaka 80.

Kuishi miaka 80 ni bahati. Kwa hivyo, badala ya kulia sana na kububujikwa na machozi, tunafaa kusherehekea maisha ya mkombozi huyu wa akili za binadamu.

Huo ni uchokozi, Bw. Spika.

zilikuwa za mbali.

Marehemu Einstein, yule mwanafisia mkuu hakueleweka. Alipokufa, walitoa bongo zake wakaweka nje kusudi wajaribu kuona ni nini kilichomfanya kuwa hivyo. Huenda isiwe mila na desturi ya Mwafrika, tungemfanyia mzalendo huyu hivyo kusudi tutambue hasa ni nini kilichomfanya kuwa na hekima na uerevu kiasi hicho. Lakini maisha yake bado yataangaza kwa vitabu na makaratasi aliyoandika ili yasomwe na vizazi na sio tu wanakenya, bali ulimwengu mzima. Yeye hakufa hivyo. Ameacha mwanga na akili nyingi kwa vitabu zaidi 30 alivyoviandika.

Mimi sikuwa na bahati ya kuwa mwanafunzi wa msomi huyu kwa sababu ya kazi niliyoisomea. Lakini fikira na uzalendo wake ulidhihirika na kusikika ulimwengu mzima mpaka viongozi wetu hawangemuelewa. Walimwita katili ambaye hakutakikana. Basi ilibidi atoke na kuenda katika nchi ambazo zingempa nafasi ya kujieleza. Hiyo ni aibu kubwa.

Ninashukuru vile Sen. Wetangula ameyanakili maisha yake. Ametoa usia Kimazrui ingawa alimwita mdogo wake. Huyu ndiye Mazrui kwa sababu ameangaza maisha yake kwa muda mfupi na kuyaeleza vile tunavyoelewa wale ambao hatukukutana naye uso kwa uso, msomi huyu mkuu wa Afrika na ulimwengu mzima. Yetu ni kumkumbu na pengine kutoa rambi rambi zetu kwa jamii na marafiki ambao walimpoteza msomi huyu. Tunawaombea baraka za Mungu. Wasilie sana.

Ninashukuru.

Thank you Mr. Speaker, Sir. This afternoon, I want to join fellow Senators in passing our condolences to a departed hero of this country. As I was watching television, something came to my mind. What will I be remembered for in this country? As a leader, what can I do so as to be remembered?

This gave me a lesson that in whatever we do, we must work hard to ensure that we are remembered for the good things we do and not for the bad things we have done. We must work hard to ensure that we do good deeds that can lift the generation. This will make others learn from what we leave behind. This will encourage the young generation that is coming after us. I also learnt that despite the country and the coastal people joining the family during this hard time, it was also a lesson that we remain focused. Challenges may come our way but we must have a focused mind despite the opposition. They should not wear us down because at the end of the day if we cannot achieve what we plan to do, then the country is not achieving. We have so many people that depend on us. Academic wise, even though our brother left us, our country still benefits from the material he left behind in terms of the books he wrote.

zilikuwa za mbali.

Marehemu Einstein, yule mwanafisia mkuu hakueleweka. Alipokufa, walitoa bongo zake wakaweka nje kusudi wajaribu kuona ni nini kilichomfanya kuwa hivyo. Huenda isiwe mila na desturi ya Mwafrika, tungemfanyia mzalendo huyu hivyo kusudi tutambue hasa ni nini kilichomfanya kuwa na hekima na uerevu kiasi hicho. Lakini maisha yake bado yataangaza kwa vitabu na makaratasi aliyoandika ili yasomwe na vizazi na sio tu wanakenya, bali ulimwengu mzima. Yeye hakufa hivyo. Ameacha mwanga na akili nyingi kwa vitabu zaidi 30 alivyoviandika.

Mimi sikuwa na bahati ya kuwa mwanafunzi wa msomi huyu kwa sababu ya kazi niliyoisomea. Lakini fikira na uzalendo wake ulidhihirika na kusikika ulimwengu mzima mpaka viongozi wetu hawangemuelewa. Walimwita katili ambaye hakutakikana. Basi ilibidi atoke na kuenda katika nchi ambazo zingempa nafasi ya kujieleza. Hiyo ni aibu kubwa.

Ninashukuru vile Sen. Wetangula ameyanakili maisha yake. Ametoa usia Kimazrui ingawa alimwita mdogo wake. Huyu ndiye Mazrui kwa sababu ameangaza maisha yake kwa muda mfupi na kuyaeleza vile tunavyoelewa wale ambao hatukukutana naye uso kwa uso, msomi huyu mkuu wa Afrika na ulimwengu mzima. Yetu ni kumkumbu na pengine kutoa rambi rambi zetu kwa jamii na marafiki ambao walimpoteza msomi huyu. Tunawaombea baraka za Mungu. Wasilie sana.

Ninashukuru.

Thank you Mr. Speaker, Sir. This afternoon, I want to join fellow Senators in passing our condolences to a departed hero of this country. As I was watching television, something came to my mind. What will I be remembered for in this country? As a leader, what can I do so as to be remembered?

This gave me a lesson that in whatever we do, we must work hard to ensure that we are remembered for the good things we do and not for the bad things we have done. We must work hard to ensure that we do good deeds that can lift the generation. This will make others learn from what we leave behind. This will encourage the young generation that is coming after us. I also learnt that despite the country and the coastal people joining the family during this hard time, it was also a lesson that we remain focused. Challenges may come our way but we must have a focused mind despite the opposition. They should not wear us down because at the end of the day if we cannot achieve what we plan to do, then the country is not achieving. We have so many people that depend on us. Academic wise, even though our brother left us, our country still benefits from the material he left behind in terms of the books he wrote.

On a point of information Mr. Temporary Speaker Sir.

Do you want to be informed?

Yes Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would like to inform the honorable Senator that he has reminded me of, if I quote professor “professor wa kipekee” Prof. Ndurumo, who does not have the ability to talk. He is deaf professor.

You are so informed.

Yes Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am happy that my colleague has reminded me. I worked with him in Moi University and he is a professor of renowned standing. Those are the people I am saying we should recognise and use. As we create a syllabus for our Early Childhood Development (ECD) --- Sen. Kagwe, who is the Chairperson of the Committee on Education is here, and he is not listening.

Order! How are you able to assess that somebody is listening?

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am happy that my colleague has reminded me. I worked with him in Moi University and he is a professor of renowned standing. Those are the people I am saying we should recognise and use. As we create a syllabus for our Early Childhood Development (ECD) --- Sen. Kagwe, who is the Chairperson of the Committee on Education is here, and he is not listening.

Order! How are you able to assess that somebody is listening?

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this chance to also eulogize a great man who lived his life well. At 81 years, he was educated and had withstood criticisms. He had also written many books. Therefore, we need to celebrate his life. While doing that, we need to encourage our children to work hard and emulate such people whom we can learn from.

This was a man who, not only made Kenya proud, but also Africa as a continent. His achievements make us, as a country, feel very proud of him as a man. We, as the Senate, need to encourage the young people to work hard, because it is sad to lose professors. In the part of the country that I come from, we do not have many people joining universities lately. It is our responsibility, as legislators, to encourage our young people to work hard and join universities. We may lose professors because of their age, but we can still make more professors. This is because God has given us a chance to follow the footsteps of such great men.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I also rise to support the Motion on this very distinguished scholar. First and foremost, I wish to express my condolences to the

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this chance to also eulogize a great man who lived his life well. At 81 years, he was educated and had withstood criticisms. He had also written many books. Therefore, we need to celebrate his life. While doing that, we need to encourage our children to work hard and emulate such people whom we can learn from.

This was a man who, not only made Kenya proud, but also Africa as a continent. His achievements make us, as a country, feel very proud of him as a man. We, as the Senate, need to encourage the young people to work hard, because it is sad to lose professors. In the part of the country that I come from, we do not have many people joining universities lately. It is our responsibility, as legislators, to encourage our young people to work hard and join universities. We may lose professors because of their age, but we can still make more professors. This is because God has given us a chance to follow the footsteps of such great men.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

him his mercy.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, some of us may not have personally known him, but indeed, as many speakers have said, his works have touched many. I want to very briefly refer to some of the words that have been used to describe this distinguished scholar by some of his contemporary scholars and friends specifically, there is one Prof. Mohamed Haidara who was his classmate.

To give a bit of background to the Members, Prof. Ali Mazrui was the son of one of the most distinguished and outstanding scholars and teachers in the whole of East and Central Africa in terms of Islamic leadership. His father was called Sheikh Al Amin bin Ali Mazrui. He was, in fact, a leading teacher and Islamic scholar in the whole of East and Central Africa. So, he was born in an environment, in Old Town, where there were many scholars, and teaching was one of the main things.

Prof. Mohamed Haidara who was his classmate actually said that Prof. Mazrui developed interest, particularly in English and English Literature when they were in school. That was his area of excellence. He would always get distinction in those areas. That is how he ended up as a showpiece. Prof. Haidara says that he became a showpiece of potential African intellectual vigour and versatility. Of course, he left behind a legacy of a very informative and stimulating written literature, which he mesmerized many of us when we were in school and even now, many people in Africa. I agree with the Mover that we need to watch his documentary on the Triple Heritage of Africa.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, of course, he had a lot of achievements. I was just reading a piece by Ngugi wa Thiong’o on how Prof. Mazrui ended up getting more positions in Makerere University when he had a problem in the University of Nairobi. He was teaching Creative English and Pan Africanism in the Political Science Department of Makerere University. This took him all the way to the United States of America (USA). You remember both of them ran away after they fell out with KANU government. They were always outspoken about human rights abuses in Kenya. That is why they ended up in exile. In fact, some of the people today, scholars and professors in this country who have been critical of the way African governments run their institutions, human rights abuses, political prisoners who were being held those days, are still out of the country. It is one of the things that the government really needs to look at.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the professor was also very prominent on one thing; challenging the dominance of western culture. He always talked about that subject, relative and in relation to the Islamic and the African culture. He talked about the fact that western culture was liberal. That is why it allowed him and others to survive in that environment. However, he always emphasized the need to enrich that western culture with some of the values that we find in the African, Islamic and in other Asian cultures. He was particular when it came to tolerance. He mentioned one of the things he liked in the Islamic culture, was tolerance. He gave the examples of western Africa where he talked about majority of the population being Muslim, but you find the president is none Muslim. He also gave an example of Asia where some countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh had women presidents when, in fact, countries in the west, could not tolerate that idea at that time.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I also rise to support the Motion on this very distinguished scholar. First and foremost, I wish to express my condolences to the

Order! Sen. Njoroge, go back to the bar and bow to the Chair.

Mr. Temporary Speaker Sir, Prof. Mazrui was not looking at religion, culture and so forth with the narrow view the way we do or in the context in which today we profile religions very narrowly. He had a very wide picture of the way we look at these things. He really enriched a lot of people in getting a better view of issues and never shied away. Even from wherever he was in the USA, he criticized many contemporary issues, especially arising from the western view of some of the conflicts in Africa and examples like the one he gave about the apartheid in South Africa and others. We have this kind of people in many parts of the world who are Kenyans; they are acclaimed outside, but not in their country. Today, we have a situation, and I agree with the Senator there, where we have freedom fighters starving in their houses here with no resources yet they are people who have given a name to this country. In the same way, that there are scholars who have lifted the name, image and reputation of this country globally, but again, do not really enjoy the fruits of this country.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I agree with the Motion fully that we need to recognize this scholar. Already Uganda has announced that they want to put up commemorative things there in respect of his work at Makerere University and Africa. Understandably, our Government is silent let alone visiting or even taking part in the funeral in Mombasa. In fact, it is surprising that both the President and the Deputy President did not physically attend his funeral. They ought to, even now at least pay some visit to the relatives of these people. It does not really matter the political inclinations, but I think it is important that as a nation and as leaders, we need to stand up with people who have made a contribution to this country and its history.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I support the Motion.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. Let me start from where Sen. Billow left. I recall during the time we were organizing his funeral, I had the opportunity to chair the organizing committee, because Mombasa and its leadership felt that it was befitting to give Prof. Mazrui the full honour. There were loud murmurs as to why people of that highest apex of leadership did not see the need to come to that funeral.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, that notwithstanding, whether they came to the funeral or not, his work and achievements over the years say it all. That is what Prof. Mazrui fought for many years. I recall some of the private conversations I had with him about the stereotyping of the people of the coast region as being a lazy, laid back and a

Very well. You can come in.

coastal heritage, Mombasa background and more precisely about Kibokoni where we were all born. All of you have said so many great things about him, but I knew him quite personally because I was born in that household too because, maternally, my mother was a cousin to him. That said and done, I remember one of the final conversations I had with him was about nation state.

I recall what Prof. Yash Pal Ghai said at the advent of Kenya’s Independence. The concern about building a state based on ethnicity; that is, an ethno state. Prof. Ghai even said it during Prof. Mazrui’s memorial. I think he was fairly very kind to the former President Kibaki. I recall his very kind remarks telling me that you, probably, will never see a Head of State of this nature. He called him Africa’s political gentleman. Just one or two years into this regime, I believe it is difficult to find another Kibaki in the foreseeable future. Why was he very cordial about Kibaki? He felt that as a President, he recognized his excellence in academia. His first substantive appointment in the field of academia that he got in his own country was given by former President Kibaki. He did his best to discharge that responsibility.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, Prof. Ali Mazrui was a man full of humour. His humour transcended most of our expectations. Outside the public gallery, he would be a very easy. He was down to earth kind of a person. He was very amiable and very focused in terms of encouraging young people to pursue their education with excellence. I recall when I was chased from the university, he was really interested that I join one of the universities in the USA so that I could be away from the constant humiliation and that my study programme could not be interrupted adversely. However, I believe at that time, I was too focused on studying law. I did not want to do the Jurist Doctorate degree which would have meant that I first do a basic degree.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is befitting to erect a monument to honour Prof. Ali Mazrui. In Mombasa, the leadership is talking of the possibility of starting an Ali Mazrui Institute of Government or political science or as faculty in one of the existing institutions because that is what would be befitting of his legacy and not necessarily to erect a monument or name a road after him which is a very standard practice. We should do something which will capture what he really stood for and lived for.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as we eulogize Prof. Mazrui, let us not have the hypocrisy to talk about his great notions; the things he represented and yet did the reverse of what he stood for. Therefore, as we eulogize Prof. Mazrui and say all these nice things about him, I think what would be the greatest challenge to all of us to ensure that we live his legacy. We should live on the tenets of democracy, fair play, justice and human rights. Most important – many people tend to underestimate – is the courage Prof. Mazrui had. He wrote countlessly on African dictatorships. Most recently, he had gotten quite actively in Islamic activism; talking about the Jews State and the humiliation of the Palestinian people.

It is important in life when you see victimization anywhere, you talk with candor. You remember the wise words of Malcolm X; “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. Therefore we must broaden our discourse to be more global and that is why the Motion by Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale about South Sudan is in place. Therefore, we should

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. Let me start from where Sen. Billow left. I recall during the time we were organizing his funeral, I had the opportunity to chair the organizing committee, because Mombasa and its leadership felt that it was befitting to give Prof. Mazrui the full honour. There were loud murmurs as to why people of that highest apex of leadership did not see the need to come to that funeral.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, that notwithstanding, whether they came to the funeral or not, his work and achievements over the years say it all. That is what Prof. Mazrui fought for many years. I recall some of the private conversations I had with him about the stereotyping of the people of the coast region as being a lazy, laid back and a

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, let me also take the opportunity to condole this great scholar of this country who has since rested. I join the rest of my colleagues who have expressed very wonderful words about this scholar who is a native of our country.

I had the opportunity to see Prof. Mazrui only one afternoon for about five minutes at the University of Nairobi in 1973. This, in fact, was the afternoon that he had his last activity in that university. That time there was a lot of academic freedom in the University of Nairobi. We valued individuals like Prof. Mazrui who made us exercise our minds. One of the ways he got the students to exercise their minds was the questions he posed to them. I think it is one of the questions that he posed to them that sent him into exile. He posed a question which depicted Jomo Kenyatta as the last colonial Governor of Kenya. I think for those who were there at that time, that period of time it was very offensive for those who were outside the university, but for us who were in the university, this was a very good topic to exercise our minds. It was an opportunity to express ourselves without jeopardizing the Government that was there. Unfortunately, I think this is the kind of thing that sent this scholarly individual out of this country. It was very unfortunate.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I think it is because of what happened to Prof. Mazrui, that we should learn to be tolerant to some of these divergent opinions and try to find out more about others. We should find out what it is that Prof. Mazrui had that other people could see that we could not see here until his death. We know that brain power is really what builds the superpowers. I think if we recognize this earlier, we would know that brain power does not grow on land or trees; it is inherent in individuals. I think we

reap the greatest benefits from them. We know that the existence of superpowers is as a result of individuals. There are individuals who can calculate a parabolic question that can send a missile to the moon or shoot a target which is many kilometres away. This is how superpowers express their power all over the world simply because we have individuals who have the brain power to be utilized in that manner.

I regret that in this country, we have not been able to recognize and appreciate those individuals who are gifted with this kind of brain power. We know there are many Kenyans around the world who are not directly benefiting our country because they are serving in other countries. This is one of the things that we should address as early as possible so that we can maximize the benefits of these individuals both as living examples within us rather than just reading them in books. I, therefore, join my colleagues in condoling Prof. Mazrui for who he was and also urge my colleagues from the coast to actually do a monument of some kind in honour of Prof. Mazrui. It should not be a monument on the roadside, but an institution that will carry the name of this individual so that even if we will not be able to see him physically, we will see the monument and, probably, this would encourage us to value such individuals in time. For those Kenyans who are still out of the country, we should at the earliest time possible bring them back home when they are still alive rather than wait until they are dead.

I condole Prof. Mazuri’s family, may his soul rest in peace as we continue to remember and value his virtues which he has left with us. Thank you.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I stand to pay tribute to a great leader of this country and a great leader from the coast. He was a role model, especially to the people from the coast. He transcended right from the region to the country and into the international realm. There is no Kenyan who does not know Prof. Mazrui. Everybody associates the name of Prof. Mazrui with the great work that he did. He was such a hard working person, full of humility and with a lot of energy and focus. He was never ashamed to speak about an issue just because nobody else was speaking about it for as long as he felt that, that issue was important. Indeed, as an academician, he is well renowned for the intellectual input in terms of publications and books. He had written a total of 30 books. That is no mean feat. Therefore, even in the sort of topics and issues that he dealt with, the forthrightness, he put into these issues shows the academic effort he put in to ensure that his thoughts and ideas were passed on. One of the key things that he always communicated was about the empowerment of the African continent. With everything that is associated with it, he still looked at the positive aspects of it and what good could come out of it. Indeed, in 1967, he wrote a book Towards a Pan African Society. What he had in mind was that Kenya and all other countries within Africa should identify what their issues are, then have an ideology and a methodology of solving problems. He said that African nations should remain united rather than divided. In that quest, he made very many communications all the time, especially in the media. He was very forthright and always came forward to talk about African affairs. He never shied away from the issues. Indeed, he also wrote about two presidents; Kwame Nkrumah and Nelson Mandela, as an epitome of what African leadership can be. He wrote about these two also as a way to encourage other states that had not reached the level of these two

of those countries before their own ideals.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, indeed, throughout most of his writings, he had three inter-connected strands that he always talked about; one, indigenous traditions – and he never shied away from them – right from his religion. He was born a Muslim. He remained a Muslim right from the coastal cultures and traditions. Even while he was in the USA, he still kept close to his community. He kept calling his friends and relatives. He kept on visiting people and he opened up his home, especially for those who were going to the USA for the first time. So, he kept those indigenous traditions, especially those from the coast; that is, friendliness towards people and respect towards elders. This was an epitome of a foundation that he was very proud of and which he upheld throughout his own life.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, Prof. Mazrui kept to his Islamic faith and he was very keen on it. Indeed, many of his writings are on the same Islamic faith. So, he not only practiced the religion of Islam, but he also talked about it, discussed about it and wrote about it, so that people would understand it. Yet he was also critical, for example, in looking at issues of terrorism or extremism. He would actually try to contextualize issues so that it is not seen as a religious issue, but it is put completely aside. Therefore, he educated people and tried to make sure that people tolerated each other. In fact, one of his main outstanding attribute was that of humanism. For Prof. Mazrui, the dignity of all human beings was the key thing. It did not matter the religion, gender, where you came from or the race; all these did not matter. The most important thing for him was the humanity and the dignity of a person. He kept that dignity himself by being and living a very simple and very down to earth sort of life, where he saw and looked at things from a very simple perspective. Indeed, even when it came to amassing wealth, we have read and we were told that he is not the person who amassed this wealth. In fact, at the end of the month with his salary, he would give it away and said “let us just wait for the next month and we pick it up from there.” That should be a lesson because sometimes we spend too much time amassing wealth and we forget the key lessons about humanity, which are key and instrumental in our lives.

He also spent a lot of time also talking about the need to free ourselves from the colonial past and to think about a development trajectory that removes those ties from that colonial past, be it in the form of the actual colonialism or in the form of neo- colonialism. Therefore, he advocated a renewal and an enlightenment of Africa, starting afresh, starting anew and focusing on what is good in Africa so that people could move to the next level. Throughout most of his life, especially in America for over 40 years, the real themes of racism and oppression were not only themes that he wrote about, but probably things that he felt as well. But, again, in his very articulate and humane way, he still discussed this and encouraged others to live beyond that. In one of his writings, this was very key, apart from the two presidents that he wrote about – Kwame Nkrumah and Nelson Mandela – he also did some work on Barrack Obama’s father, I guess as a way of really showing what good can come from Africa. So, he was always very positive, very enlightened and

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I stand to pay tribute to a great leader of this country and a great leader from the coast. He was a role model, especially to the people from the coast. He transcended right from the region to the country and into the international realm. There is no Kenyan who does not know Prof. Mazrui. Everybody associates the name of Prof. Mazrui with the great work that he did. He was such a hard working person, full of humility and with a lot of energy and focus. He was never ashamed to speak about an issue just because nobody else was speaking about it for as long as he felt that, that issue was important. Indeed, as an academician, he is well renowned for the intellectual input in terms of publications and books. He had written a total of 30 books. That is no mean feat. Therefore, even in the sort of topics and issues that he dealt with, the forthrightness, he put into these issues shows the academic effort he put in to ensure that his thoughts and ideas were passed on. One of the key things that he always communicated was about the empowerment of the African continent. With everything that is associated with it, he still looked at the positive aspects of it and what good could come out of it. Indeed, in 1967, he wrote a book Towards a Pan African Society. What he had in mind was that Kenya and all other countries within Africa should identify what their issues are, then have an ideology and a methodology of solving problems. He said that African nations should remain united rather than divided. In that quest, he made very many communications all the time, especially in the media. He was very forthright and always came forward to talk about African affairs. He never shied away from the issues. Indeed, he also wrote about two presidents; Kwame Nkrumah and Nelson Mandela, as an epitome of what African leadership can be. He wrote about these two also as a way to encourage other states that had not reached the level of these two

Proceed, Sen. Kagwe. You will have only two minutes.

Sen. Kagwe, I think I will give you more time; wewe ni msomi. Speak for all your 15 minutes.

Proceed, Sen. Kagwe. You will have only two minutes.

Thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I was hard put to try and finalize. I wanted to thank Sen. Wetangula and sit down, but thank you for your generosity.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the people of Nyeri and, indeed, on behalf of those of us who feel very strongly about Prof. Ali Mazrui and his contribution, I also wish to condole the family and, indeed, the people of this great Republic. It is not often that we rise to mourn and eulogize academicians. Usually, what we do is mourn and eulogize politicians. But it is in the spirit that Sen. Wetangula has brought to this House that we begin to recognize that leadership is not just political leadership. Prof. Ali Mazrui was a global leader and a global citizen; but he had nothing to do with elective politics as such. Therefore, it is good for us to note that and encourage young people, particularly the people in the coast region, to note that you can come from any background and you can start from any step. It is the Chinese who say that “the journey of a thousand miles start with the first step.” This is exemplified in what Prof. Mazrui has done; from a small village somewhere in the coast that Sen. Hassan has explained to us all the way to universities in Manchester, United States of America and back again to Oxford in the United Kingdom. This is encouraging. It is the song we should sing to our young people. This is the song that should permeate throughout our nation so that people can see that irrespective of where they come from, they can go places and that in this country, given the opportunity, our young people can be achievers as, indeed, Ali Mazrui was.

I congratulate Sen. Hassan and the Committee that put together the funeral arrangements for Professor Mazrui. However, we must remember that only when it is dark can you see the sun. Sometimes, when we are speaking, we do not praise those who have achieved. For example, on Mashujaa Day, many names were mentioned. It is in keeping with that spirit that I will agree with one Senator who said that even as we have Mashujaa Days in our counties, we should also remember and recognise the people in those counties who are doing great things. We can mention many names and others who have gone before us. It is good to recognise and praise those who are with us.

Often, in our cultures, even the words “thank you” are not used often. We do not say, thank you, Senator, for what you have done for us. Even amongst the citizenry, no matter what you do, often what you get is criticism. You do not get any praise. The Senators here can give numerous examples of things they have done.

That behavior continues to permeate in leaders and to the nation as a whole. We do not know how to praise. We do not also know how to recognise those people amongst us who have done great things; not just for our communities but, in fact, for our country and perhaps further than that as Prof. Mazrui did. Look at what our athletes do. When you go with an athlete to a place like London, New York or Boston, you will find that this athlete is much more recognised than anybody around you. However, here in Kenya, there is no recognition of such people. I would like to encourage, in memory of Prof. Mazrui, that we adopt an attitude of praise for our heroes and an attitude of saying thank you. Let us adopt an attitude of appreciating each other as a people away from anything that divides us. We should recognise more what unites us as, indeed, Prof. Mazrui did.

I will give some latitude. I think there is one more request.

Asante sana, Bw. Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa nafasi kuunga Hoja hii mkono ambayo imeletwa na Sen. Wetangula. Kabla sijatoa risala zangu za rambi rambi, ningependa kumpongeza Sen. Wetangula kwa kufikiria kuleta Hoja hii ili tuzungumze kama viongozi na Maseneta wa nchi hii.

Ningependa kutoa risala zangu za rambi rambi kwa jamii na marafiki na watu wa Kaunti ya Mombasa kwa kupoteza mtu ambaye alikuwa msomi na mtafiti. Mimi najua kwamba utafiti wake na usomi wake umewajenga wananchi wa nchi hii. Yeye alituonyesha uzalendo hata ingawa alipitia shida nyingi. Ingawa aliishi katika nchi ya nje, alionyesha uzalendo mwingi. Kama Seneti na viongozi wa nchi hii, yeye anafaa kutambuliwa.

Ningependa kusema pia haya tu hayatoshi. Wakati mwingine, tunafaa kuwatambua wale ambao wanaifanyia nchi hii kazi. Kuna wale ambao wameeneza mambo ya amani katika nchi yetu na mambo mengine ambayo yametusaidia katika nchi ya Kenya. Ningependa kuchukua nafasi hii kumshukuru Seneta ambaye ameleta Hoja hii. Ningependa kuwashukuru wote ambao wameongea kuhusu Hoja hii. Ninatoa rambi rambi kwa niaba ya Kaunti ya Nakuru.

Yes, Sen. G.G. Kariuki.

You have five minutes.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I would also like to be counted as one of the people who have spoken about Prof. Mazrui. My concern is that at times, people seem to see things in different ways. We are now talking about what he has done which has nothing to do with our work here today. What has been done is already recorded. Whatever this gentleman has done is already recorded. He has done very well in his line of development. We need to ask ourselves what we have learnt after all the work that this gentleman did. Now that he has passed on, what have we learnt from him? What have our children learnt from this gentleman? Is it just to come here and pay tribute and that is all? I think we need to grow a little bit wiser than that and think more critically than what we are saying here. The man has shown the whole world and particularly Kenyans that we can achieve anything we want to achieve as long as we are determined and as long as we have a vision.

Prof. Mazrui had a vision that one day he would become a professor, producer and not just a consumer in the field of education. That is what he had done. We are consumers of all the books that he has written. The guy died as a producer. Therefore, he has a big name as far as our lives are concerned. We must start thinking of people who are like him in this country and who have done better than him and yet are still around. Why should we wait until they die so that a Senator brings a Motion to say kwaheri to him? That could be human nature as far as our society is concerned. However, there is need to start marking and establishing people who are worth this kind of tribute either in the House or outside the House. It is important for our children to know that once they compete successively and become what they want to be, there will be good life after that. They will be recognised and their grandchildren will also know that they had a father who was like this or that. I think we need to go beyond that so that we can be respected by the people who think that we can do better than them.

How many minutes, Sir?

quarter. Prof. Mazrui was never a Member of Parliament or president of a political party or a republic like Kenya. But he will forever be remembered because of the record that he has left behind. Whether or not we want to praise him, he had already prepared for his praise during his lifetime. It is not only Prof. Mazrui who has contributed to this nation. There is contribution by other people in business, academia, sports and Christianity. All these people need to have their place in this country, so that our children will have something to emulate and say:-

“If I work so hard, I will one day be the Speaker, Deputy Speaker or Temporary Speaker of the Senate.” That is a very good example. But as it stands, once you exit Parliament, no one will ever remember that you were in that Chair. It will appear as if you are dead. We must change our perception and approach on how we appreciate our heroes. Our heroes cannot only be found in the political field, but everywhere. Even the paratroopers and General Service Unit officers can be heroes, including sportsmen and women. We have people like my friend, Sen. Njoroge, who is here. They can be recognized for what they have done. But human beings are behaving just like animals. Once you go, you are forgotten and nobody remembers you. We have to find a way of reminding people that you have been here. That is why some of us try as much as possible to do a lot. Whether you like it or not, I will still be here. Prof. Mazrui will be remembered for many years to come, because you will never change what he has written. We are not doing any justice to Prof. Mazrui here. We should do justice to those who have not qualified academically and wish to be like Prof. Mazrui.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I thank you for allowing me to say a few words. At first, I was wondering whether I would say anything, because we keep on talking about things and they just pass.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I also rise to eulogize, pay tribute and send my sincere condolences to the family of the late Prof. Mazrui.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this is a scholar who built many of us. We celebrate an icon who believed in the African Continent and education as the only way of changing lives. Prof. Mazrui who was born in Mombasa leaves behind a rich legacy which I hope Mombasa County will benefit from and build on. I hope that the county will prioritize education.

Prof. Mazrui uplifted Kenya not just in Africa, but even in the international community. For those who studied in Kenyatta University and other universities, his memories will always remain because of the books that he wrote. Therefore, we will always remember Prof. Mazrui whenever we walk into a classroom. We should also try our best to follow his footsteps. We hope that we shall have different scholars who will continue with his legacy in writing books.

In Kenya today, I think that everyone has a story to tell, especially those who have had a privilege to go through higher education.

We know that Prof. Mazrui mentored many students. In the United States (US) and Nigeria, he will be remembered for bringing out the history and heritage of Africa. I hope that, as a country, we can learn lessons from what he taught and believed in. Prof.

conquer whatever you want through a document; that you can present a document and that document will transform the minds of every person to think positively. I hope that we can emulate that. We should be able to look at different ways of managing crisis in Kenya and Africa as a whole. That is what Prof. Mazrui believed in.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, today, we celebrate a man who was never involved in corruption. I hope that we can borrow that virtue from him. For him, corruption was not part of his life. As a leader, there are those values and principles you must have. Prof. Mazrui had those principles. I just hope that as young people, we will be able to do the same.

The other value that Prof. Mazrui taught us is respect of those who have done us proud. As one of those Mashujaas, we hope that we will continue to respect, appreciate and support each other in whatever we are doing.

I hope that within the academic institutions, we will look at what he taught us and go back to the different values and principles that we had those days. We should see students coming out of the university transformed and ready to be patriotic to their country as he was. When you read his books, you will learn to believe in yourself and have faith in whatever you do. Whatever you do, let it be a service to others.

You should not manipulate situations to get what you want, but use the right process which is passing examinations and getting what you want through merit. That is what he believed in. He has left us with a new Constitution that can transform all that we believe in. He has left the country richer and it is up to us now to ensure that we safeguard what we have gained as a country. It is up to us to support the Government of the day so that this country moves to a different level where Kenya is not the tail but the head.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I also rise to eulogize, pay tribute and send my sincere condolences to the family of the late Prof. Mazrui.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this is a scholar who built many of us. We celebrate an icon who believed in the African Continent and education as the only way of changing lives. Prof. Mazrui who was born in Mombasa leaves behind a rich legacy which I hope Mombasa County will benefit from and build on. I hope that the county will prioritize education.

Prof. Mazrui uplifted Kenya not just in Africa, but even in the international community. For those who studied in Kenyatta University and other universities, his memories will always remain because of the books that he wrote. Therefore, we will always remember Prof. Mazrui whenever we walk into a classroom. We should also try our best to follow his footsteps. We hope that we shall have different scholars who will continue with his legacy in writing books.

In Kenya today, I think that everyone has a story to tell, especially those who have had a privilege to go through higher education.

We know that Prof. Mazrui mentored many students. In the United States (US) and Nigeria, he will be remembered for bringing out the history and heritage of Africa. I hope that, as a country, we can learn lessons from what he taught and believed in. Prof.

conquer whatever you want through a document; that you can present a document and that document will transform the minds of every person to think positively. I hope that we can emulate that. We should be able to look at different ways of managing crisis in Kenya and Africa as a whole. That is what Prof. Mazrui believed in.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, today, we celebrate a man who was never involved in corruption. I hope that we can borrow that virtue from him. For him, corruption was not part of his life. As a leader, there are those values and principles you must have. Prof. Mazrui had those principles. I just hope that as young people, we will be able to do the same.

The other value that Prof. Mazrui taught us is respect of those who have done us proud. As one of those Mashujaas, we hope that we will continue to respect, appreciate and support each other in whatever we are doing.

I hope that within the academic institutions, we will look at what he taught us and go back to the different values and principles that we had those days. We should see students coming out of the university transformed and ready to be patriotic to their country as he was. When you read his books, you will learn to believe in yourself and have faith in whatever you do. Whatever you do, let it be a service to others.

You should not manipulate situations to get what you want, but use the right process which is passing examinations and getting what you want through merit. That is what he believed in. He has left us with a new Constitution that can transform all that we believe in. He has left the country richer and it is up to us now to ensure that we safeguard what we have gained as a country. It is up to us to support the Government of the day so that this country moves to a different level where Kenya is not the tail but the head.

most experienced of the presidents. So, this is a summary that Prof. Ali Mazrui gave of the political leadership of East Africa at the time he was leaving East Africa to go and live in exile in the United States of America (USA).

Madam Temporary Speaker, a lot of intellectuals and academicians of this country are non-committed. They are people who do not even believe what they teach. They are people who do not practice what they teach. This very term “professor---”

On a point of order, Madam Temporary Speaker. Is the Senator in order to allude that some of the professionals and academicians do not believe in what they teach? Is it possible for him to substantiate that claim?

most experienced of the presidents. So, this is a summary that Prof. Ali Mazrui gave of the political leadership of East Africa at the time he was leaving East Africa to go and live in exile in the United States of America (USA).

Madam Temporary Speaker, a lot of intellectuals and academicians of this country are non-committed. They are people who do not even believe what they teach. They are people who do not practice what they teach. This very term “professor---”

Chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in those days. If you want to pay accolade to our scholars, if you want to recognize great Kenyans, let us not wait until they die and then we say how great they were. Let us recognize them as great people when they are alive. Where I come from, we say “why do you come with flowers after I am dead when I cannot see the flowers? Why do you come to my funeral in big motorcades after I am dead when while I was alive, you could not even shake hands with me?”

Madam Temporary Speaker, I know that our friend, Sen. (Dr.) Zani, is a lecturer at the university. Of course, we really commend her and all the scholars in this Senate. But I was very careful in the language that I used; I said “some” and you are not included in that category.

Madam Temporary Speaker, there are some people who have been talking about democracy but they do not believe in democracy. There are other academicians who are academicians for hire. If the donors call them and tell them “this is where the funding for this year is, we would like research to be done along this area,” even if they do not believe in what they are supposed to come out with, they will listen to what those who are paying them want to be the outcomes and then they will proceed and do research – I would call it “kangaroo” research because it is done to justify what their paymasters want. So, that is what I meant by people not believing or practicing what they teach. We had very many cases like this in the 1990s. You saw a lot of professors coming out in defense of the one party rule and even saying there was democracy within the one party rule when all of us knew that it was not possible. We knew that it was a contradiction in terms for there to be democracy in an undemocratic situation. So, Prof. Ali Mazrui at least voted with his feet; he left this country when he found that there was no space for him to align his briefs and the realities of East Africa.

Madam Temporary Speaker, if you look at Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s book, there is a photograph of Prof. Ali Mazrui carrying a huge placard in London during a demonstration protesting the detention of Ngugi wa Thiong’o without trial, I think in 1978 or thereabouts. So, this is the thing I am talking about; a committed scholar. Prof. Mazrui was not a leftist; he was not a Marxist, which was inferred those days. He believed in liberal democracy and I think he went to support Ngugi wa Thiong’o not because they agreed ideologically, but because he felt that irrespective of your beliefs, you should fight for freedom of speech. That is why he joined those who were picketing in front of the High Commission of Kenya in London in defense of the freedom of speech.

Madam Temporary Speaker, as we pay tribute to Prof. Ali Mazrui today, let us remember that the forces which forced him out of this country and the ideologies which made it impossible for this great Kenyan scholar to teach in Kenya could come back again and force other academicians to follow the same path as Prof. Mazrui.

Madam Temporary Speaker, we should not just sing and glorify Prof. Mazrui as a hero when he is dead; we should have sung and glorified him when he was alive. I want to thank the former President of this country, President Mwai Kibaki, because he is the

Chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in those days. If you want to pay accolade to our scholars, if you want to recognize great Kenyans, let us not wait until they die and then we say how great they were. Let us recognize them as great people when they are alive. Where I come from, we say “why do you come with flowers after I am dead when I cannot see the flowers? Why do you come to my funeral in big motorcades after I am dead when while I was alive, you could not even shake hands with me?”

There are no further requests to speak on this matter. According to Standing Order No. 72, this matter does not affect counties. Therefore, I will proceed to put the question.

Where is Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.? Is he not here? That Bill is deferred.

There are no further requests to speak on this matter. According to Standing Order No. 72, this matter does not affect counties. Therefore, I will proceed to put the question.

Sen. Steward Madzayo is not in the House. That Bill is deferred.

Let us move to the next order.

Sen. Kipchumba Murkomen is not also in the House. That Bill is deferred.

Let us move to the next order.

Senator, let me interrupt you. Are you moving this Bill?

October 23, 2014 SENATE DEBATES (SENATE BILL NO. 21 OF 2014)

Okay, because if you were moving, I would have taken note that you are not following the right procedure. But if you are seeking something else, then just proceed.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I am saying that the Bill is not ready because it has not gone through the necessary steps under our Standing Orders under which the Committee is supposed to invite the public for their opinion. I am, therefore, requesting that the Bill be deferred so that the necessary procedure can be followed.

That is accepted. The Bill is deferred to a later date. The Clerks-at-the-Table have taken note of that. Let us move to the next order.

Okay, because if you were moving, I would have taken note that you are not following the right procedure. But if you are seeking something else, then just proceed.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I am saying that the Bill is not ready because it has not gone through the necessary steps under our Standing Orders under which the Committee is supposed to invite the public for their opinion. I am, therefore, requesting that the Bill be deferred so that the necessary procedure can be followed.

That is accepted. The Bill is deferred to a later date. The Clerks-at-the-Table have taken note of that. Let us move to the next order.

Yes, Sen. Murungi.

Hon. Senators, I want to make reference to Standing Order No.32, and for the convenience of the Senate, order that there being no further business today, the Senate stands adjourned to Tuesday 28th October, 2014, at 2.30 p.m.

The House rose at 5.20 p.m.

Very well.

Hon. Senators, I want to make reference to Standing Order No.32, and for the convenience of the Senate, order that there being no further business today, the Senate stands adjourned to Tuesday 28th October, 2014, at 2.30 p.m.

The House rose at 5.20 p.m.