KIBAKI ADDRESSES OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 NAIROBI 000809 C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (PARA NUMBERS) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EFIN ECON EAGR SENV KE UG SUBJECT: KIBAKI ADDRESSES OPENING OF PARLIAMENT REF: NAIROBI 780 NAIROBI 00000809 001.2 OF 009 ¶1. Summary: At the April 21 opening of the third session of Parliament, 199 of 222 members of Parliament (MPs) attended and listened attentively to the President's and Speaker's speeches. In their opening prayers, religious leaders called for peace, unity, and strength even as the country was going through tough economic times, worsened by famine and drought. They also prayed for the political class to shun selfish interests and focus on addressing issues that are affecting the nation. Kibaki's speech was relatively comprehensive, though did not seem to give the reform agenda all the prominence it deserves. The Speaker delivered a refreshingly frank speech which hit issues head-on. The atmosphere at the reception after the opening session was relaxed as MPs mixed freely and President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga went round greeting invited guests and MPs. Parliament's first order of business will be debating the President's speech for four days. (Note: This is much quicker than in the past, thanks to the new Standing Orders drafted with assistance from AID/Kenya's parliamentary strengthening program.) MPs will then move on to tackling the supplementary budget presented by the Finance Minister on April 21. However, political wrangling over the composition of the House Business Committee, which controls the Parliamentary agenda, may delay consideration of the budget and other substantive issues. End summary. ¶2. On April 21, the third session of the Tenth Parliament opened, with 199 of 222 members of Parliament (MPs) in attendance. As is customary, President Kibaki opened the session with an official speech. He noted that his priorities for business to be conducted during this session (expected to last until mid-summer) include: completion of the establishment of the Independent Interim Electoral Commission (details septel),the appointment of the members of the Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC),and reformulation of the draft legislation establishing a local special tribunal to try perpetrators of post-election violence. Kibaki said he expected the TJRC to begin work "in a few weeks" and that the National Integration Commission, which is supposed to foster national unity and inter-ethnic reconciliation, should begin work in two months. Kibaki also talked in general terms about the need to fight corruption. However, the great majority of his speech focused on the dire economic situation facing Kenya. In a revealing comment, Kibaki said "I invite Kenyans to spend more time on economic and social development rather than non-productive politics." Religious leaders who led prayers at the session called on MPs to address critical issues facing Kenya, including drought and famine, and to set aside personal agendas in favor of the common good. KIBAKI ON MIGINGO ISLAND DISPUTE ¶3. Kibaki also addressed the unresolved dispute between Kenya and Uganda over tiny Migingo Island in Lake Victoria (details septel). He called on Kenyans and MPs to be patient, noting that the government "will always prtect the territorial integrity of our country," and asked them to give diplomatic processes a chance to resolve the problem. He said he was in constant touch with Ugandan President Museveni on the matter, and added that he and Museveni had agreed to resolve the issue amicably through a border demarcation exercise being conducted by the Joint Kenya-Uganda Boundary Review Committee. He concluded that, as members of the East African Community (EAC),Kenya and Uganda are bound by the EAC Treaty to resolve disputes peacefully. SPEAKER MARENDE URGES ACTION ON REFORMS ¶4. The Speaker of the House, Kenneth Marende (ODM),was forthright in his remarks, exhorting his fellow MPs to show "the extraordinary leadership that these extraordinary times demand." He called on MPs to set aside personal interests and political rivalries and to concentrate on solving Kenya's problems. The reform agenda cannot wait, he said, citing the examples of countries like the former Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union who failed to address the need for internal reforms and were torn apart as a consequence. Marende also cited environmental concerns such as drought and deforestation as factors that contribute significantly to food insecurity and must be addressed urgently. LEGISLATIVE AGENDA NAIROBI 00000809 002.2 OF 009 ¶5. At the opening session, the following bills were tabled: -- Social Protection Bill on Older Persons and Aging -- The Persons with Disabilities Policy -- The Children's Act 2001 Amendment Bill -- The National Youth Council Bill -- The Sports Bill -- The Technical Institutes and Vocational Training Bill -- The Higher Education Bill -- The Social Protection Bill -- The Judicial Services Bill -- The Small Claims Courts Bill -- The Law Reform Bill -- The Council for Legal Education Bill -- The National Health Insurance Fund Amendment Bill -- The Public Health Amendment Bill -- The Local Government Amendment Bill -- The Consolidated Regional Development Authorities Bill ¶6. Of the bills already tabled, we will be following closely the Amendment Bill to the Children's Act, which addresses important child protection and children's rights issues, including child soldiers and child prostitution. The Judicial Services Bill is also a critical piece of legislation, as it address how judges are appointed and reasons for which they can be removed (see reftel A). We have long advocated for the creation of small claims courts in Kenya, which would, if sensibly implemented, contribute to the reduction of massive backlogs and make justice more accessible for the vast number of claimants seeking relatively minor financial remedies. Disability rights organizations have lobbied for changes to the national disabilities policy, and we will follow up with them to see if the draft legislation meets their needs. ¶7. The government also plans to present bills in the following policy areas, among others: health sector policy, with the goal of expanding access to health care, safe drugs and medicines, and emergency services; national human rights policy, which will address the need to strengthen the capacity and competence of the governance and judicial systems; integrated transport policy; food security and nutrition policy; cooperative development policy; arid and semi-arid lands development policy; wildlife policy; tourism policy; land policy; and livestock policy. Of these, land policy is arguably the most important and most overdue. MISSING FROM THE AGENDA: MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORISM ¶8. The government has not proposed anti-money laundering (AML) or counter-terrorism legislation. Previous efforts to introduce bills in these two key areas failed in the Ninth Parliament due to domestic political opposition, notably from Kenya's Muslim community. However, we will continue to lobby the Kenyan government to take legislative action on the issues. We understand that the Ministry of Finance is revising the AML bill and may reintroduce it later this session. The fate of the counter-terrorism legislation is unknown. TEXT OF SPEAKER'S REMARKS ¶9. Begin text: Your Excellency, Honorable Members, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my pleasant duty and exclusive honor to welcome you to Parliament Buildings on this auspicious occasion of the State Opening of the Third Session of the Tenth Parliament. This ceremony is taking place at a most momentous time in the life history of our country. First, the Coalition Government credited with reclaiming tranquility in our motherland is besieged with apparent unhealthy intrigue that sometimes threatens to overshadow the tenets of governance that we are all about. Allow me, Honorable Members, to at the very outset capture the irony of the time by asserting that we all enjoy the rare privilege of an opportunity to make history that only a chosen few are lucky to have, to make an immortal positive difference. History is beckoning at us to go into its annals as that generation of politicians that rose to the national challenge that the citizenry of Kenya expect of a people they have placed their trust in, by your election, to demonstrate the extraordinary leadership that these extraordinary times demand. NAIROBI 00000809 003.2 OF 009 As an institution, Parliament has been under incessant attack for more than one reason by, among others, our veritable partner in governance "the Fourth Estate." This is because, Honorable Members, we were elected to lead, to reform, and make Kenya a great country. What is coming through therefore is a potent message that after one and a quarter years Kenyans are hungry for a win, they want to see entries on the score card, they are not prepared to wait indefinitely. We must therefore rise to the occasion, we must move away from side shows, small talk, and stop hitting below the belt to gain unfair advantage or start fresh battles. We owe it to the country to embrace each other and collectively joined together show our ability to weather all the storms threatening our nationality or territorial integrity such as the Migingo saga. It is time to act our patriotism and love for this country so that we illustrate our stoicism to the rest of the world as we have done before, show that strong winds may blow and break our branches, bend our trunks, but our roots in the Kenyan soil remain strong, steady, firm and solidly anchored. We cannot be uprooted, this is the time that we must subordinate our partisan or parochial interest to the national interest and be bold to face the problems afflicting our country and commit ourselves to their resolution in the most diligent, objective, and honorable manner. We should be forever mindful that the Kenya that unites us is infinitely greater than our respective partisan loyalties that divide us. At the risk of belaboring the point, I want to proclaim that this is the time that Kenyans must go out of their way to protect each other's dignity and emulate the spirit our sportsmen and women have demonstrated in athletics, rugby and cricket, winning for Kenya accolades and respect the world over. If we were a country of small people with little brains and weak muscles, we would not have made these global and world record breaking achievements. Your Excellency, This House passed very important pieces of legislation that are crucial to the reforms that the Coalition Government committed itself to last year. The House went further through the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Constitutional Review Act to put in place early this year some organs of reforms. These include the Committee of Experts, Interim Electoral Commission of Kenya, etc. The public have been very keen to see these organs take shape because they mean a lot for the stability of this country. During the last recess, very harsh words were exchanged in public about requisite reforms in the Judiciary and Police force with far reaching consequences. There is nothing unique in the problems that Kenya faces today. Urgent reforms are needed in this country if the Kenyan nation is to continue as the geographical, political and physical entity that it is. What the others did is not rocket science, they simply underwent reforms and were able to be stable, peaceful, and prosperous. Why do we want to reinvent the wheel? We cannot avoid this prescription. The world is replete with examples as to the fate of those that believed otherwise, e.g. the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and nearer home, Somalia. It does not matter how difficult and chaotic things may seem to be in Kenya today but if we negotiate and debate our differences in a free and peaceful atmosphere, we shall definitely legislate long lasting reforms that are acceptable to our people and important for maintaining their unity and dignity. It is for this reason that I would once again appeal to Members to be polite and mindful of whatever they say on the floor of the House more so because the proceedings of the House are now covered live. What transpires from this House in the form of Parliamentary debate should consist of substance that will unite Kenyans, give them hope and enhance their solidarity. Yes, we live in difficult times but leadership is not about soft options. Your Excellency, Our country is having to face a grave situation of food shortage that has been compounded by the financial crisis which I am advised by those in the know was triggered off in the western world by selfish international citizens but whose consequences have hit us all. I do not intend, even for a moment, to blame the western powers for all problems responsible for food scarcity in our land. I believe that we all know where the rains started beating us. As elected leaders of our people, we must tell them the truth about some NAIROBI 00000809 004.2 OF 009 of our unsustainable land use systems which have systematically contributed to deforestation, land degradation, water mismanagement, environmental pollution, and declining agricultural production at a time when our population is increasing at an unprecedented rate. Much as these are global problems, we must act locally and make our local contribution to the global solution of these problems. God gave us a beautiful country with plenty within its borders, inclusive of rivers, lakes, forests, and rich agricultural land, name it, so much so that many a time in international fora I brag, "If you want to experience Africa, come to Kenya and will find the whole of Africa in one, under one beautiful roof." The spectacular mosaic that is Kenya. But it is our responsibility to develop this country. It is a shame today, that a lot of our food is imported from much less endowed countries yet our people are energetic and hardworking so that we, as a matter of fact, are the envy of many countries in the world for our exceptional human capital. By using our own minds, hearts and hands, we will not only produce enough food to feed our people, but also surplus for export to other drought stricken countries of the world. This must be our first aim if the Vision 2030 is to make any sense to our people. People who are hungry cannot have any vision. Allow me, Your Excellency, to underscore my point by a quote from a wise mind: "If you think right, talk right, and act right, you will meet the right people for the right reasons, and you will get the right results right here and right now." Your Excellency, May I conclude my brief remarks by thanking your Government for being mindful about assisting the National Assembly to access enough resources to carry out effective oversight of the Executive, particularly through the Committee system and implementation of other capital projects. The House adopted the new Standing Orders on the 10th of December 2008, and these are intended to place in the hands of Members appropriate tools for carrying out their constitutional mandate in the most effective and efficient manner. That is what Kenyans expect from the Members of Parliament. As Speaker of the House, I would like to reassure the Honorable Members of my commitment and dedication to defend their rights and privileges as permitted by law without fear or favor. This House represents the sovereignty of our people and it has the legal duty and constitutional mandate to speak on their behalf and call the Executive to account for all its actions. On the other hand, the Executive is afforded sufficient opportunity under the various provisions of our Standing Orders to pilot through the House its legislative, political, and administrative policies, projects, and programs. This is why Parliament exists in any democracy, young or old. Your Excellency, It is now my honor and privilege to invite you to address the nation from this House. Thank you. End text. TEXT OF KIBAKI'S SPEECH ¶10. Begin text: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join fellow Honorable Members and Kenyans on the occasion of this State Opening of the Third Session of the Tenth Parliament. I welcome you back after a busy recess in your constituencies. This occasion comes at a time when in the past year, the Government and the people of Kenya have faced various challenges in their endeavor to create a more peaceful, prosperous, and equitable country. Mr. Speaker, You will recall that soon after the formation of the Grand Coalition Government the country was faced with a crisis of 600,000 displaced persons. Half of them spent months in tents under very difficult conditions. They all had to be fed by the state, charitable organizations and development partners. The other half were accommodated by relatives, friends, and well wishers. This was the worse humanitarian crisis since independence. However, we have made steady progress in the resettlement of over 90 percent of those who were in IDP camps. We have also rebuilt 19 burnt schools, constructed 36 NAIROBI 00000809 005.2 OF 009 new police stations and 108 Administration Police posts. These resettlement programmes will need to be accelerated with a view to ensuring that all genuine IDPs are resettled. Mr. Speaker, The other challenge our country faced last year was the national food crisis. This was occasioned by the prolonged rain failure and high cost of agricultural inputs, resulting in reduced production. The crisis was further aggravated by the displacement of farmers and the depletion of our strategic grain reserves. The crises made it necessary for the Government to allocate 8.5 billion shillings for importation of maize. These funds will be allocated through a supplementary budget of which I seek your support. Mr. Speaker, It is now clear that the effects of climatic change may be here to stay, and we must act responsibly to mitigate any weather related challenges in future. In this regard, my Government is now according priority to irrigated food production in order to assure the country of food security henceforth. Some of the efforts in this direction include the six new dams to be constructed. These are: ¶1. Badasa Dam in Marsabit for water supply and irrigation, ¶2. Chemusu Multipurpose Dam in Baringo, ¶3. Umma Dam in Kitui District, ¶4. Kiserian Dam for water supply, ¶5. River Nzoia Dam for irrigating Bunyala and Budalangi, and ¶6. Upper Ewaso Nyiro Dam for irrigation and water supply for Ewaso Nyiro Basin. In addition, eight irrigation schemes are being rebuilt including Bura, Hola, Ahero, Wei Wei in Sigor, West Pokot and Kimira-Oluch in Rachuonyo and Homa Bay. With regard to agricultural inputs, the government has embarked on a program to ensure lower prices for fertilizers and seeds in support of our farmers' efforts to increase food production. Mr. Speaker, Besides the food crisis, the country experienced a serious energy crisis with rocketing energy prices reaching unprecedented levels. The food and energy crises were later followed by the global financial crisis that gave rise to the ongoing global economic crisis. The real effect of the global financial crisis has started to be felt in our economy, especially among sectors that are dependent on international demand. The multiple adversities Kenya has experienced since January 2008 has once again exposed both our weaknesses and our strengths. I want to assure Kenyans that the government is instituting a number of measures aimed at easing the effects of the global financial crisis on ordinary Kenyans and the entire economy. In this connection, the government is according higher priority to infrastructure development. In the energy sector, we are focusing especially on Geothermal and Coal Power Generation. In the transport sector, the government is focusing on modernization of our road network and a second sea port at Lamu, as well as development of the railway and road links to Ethiopia and Sudan through Isiolo. Further, we are together with Uganda working on a new standard-gauge railway line from Mombasa to Uganda, with a view to extending it to the Great Lakes Countries. As can be seen Mr. Speaker, I am confident that the Grand Coalition Government is making good progress in managing the challenges facing our nation. The government has the necessary capacity to lead Kenyans out of the current situation. We have the political will and socio-economic direction as articulated in VISION TWENTY THIRTY. However, I wish to invite Kenyans to spend more time and energy on economic and social development than on non-productive politics. We must bear in mind that Kenya is in competition with other countries in the region and globally. We are competing for investments, for tourists and for markets and businesses. Therefore, let us commit ourselves to protect and promote the image of the country. At this juncture, Mr. Speaker, some elaboration on The VISION NAIROBI 00000809 006.2 OF 009 TWENTY THIRTY would be in order for avoidance of doubt. The Vision is Kenya,s blueprint for socio-economic transformation by the year 2030. It represents a roadmap that will see every Kenyan enjoy equal opportunity and access to development. The Grand Coalition Government is currently implementing the First Medium Term Plan, which is the first phase of VISION TWENTY THIRTY. This plan is drawn from the joint manifesto of the political parties in the Grand Coalition. Mr. Speaker, The attainment of VISION TWENTY THIRTY will require our single minded focus, proper organization and high level of discipline. This is what will lead to the emergence of a prosperous, equitable, and stable country. I am therefore calling on the three arms of Government, Parliament, the Executive and the Judiciary to inculcate into their institutional set-ups the focus, organizational skills, and discipline that are required for Kenya,s successful transition into a middle income country with a high quality of life for all of her citizens. Mr. Speaker, It is important to observe that parliament has been a close participant in dealing with some of the most difficult challenges facing our nation in the past one year. I must commend the people of Kenya and Honourable Members for the courage and determination they showed in establishing commissions to look into the management of elections and the factors surrounding post-election violence. Upon establishment of the Kriegler and Waki Commissions, and subsequent presentation of their recommendations, this August House had the courage to pass landmark bills to facilitate the implementation of some of those recommendations as Parliament, in its wisdom, deemed fit. It will be recalled that parliament passed the Constitutional Review Amendment Act of 2008. This Act established the Committee of Experts on the Constitution Review. The Committee is already in place and working, to help shepherd the country towards the successful passage of a new Constitution by next year. Equally, the former Electoral Commission of Kenya was legally dissolved in December 2008. In this connection, among the first business to be conducted during this session will be to complete the establishment of the Independent Interim Electoral Commission. It should also be noted that the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Act of 2008 established the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission whose recruitment of members is currently taking place. The Commission is expected to start its work in a few weeks time. The last session of Parliament also passed the National Cohesion and Integration Act of 2008 establishing the National Integration Commission which is expected to begin its work in two months time. With regard to the Waki Commission, the bills establishing the Special Tribunal failed to pass in this House, in the last session of parliament. The government will expand consultations with a view to reformulate the establishment of a Local Tribunal to try the perpetrators of post-election violence. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that this Parliament has been instrumental in passing several landmark laws during the last session that will further secure our country,s dream for representative, effective, and accountable governance. Mr. Speaker, We are keenly aware that the Grand Coalition Government and this House must address the issues of central importance to the welfare and development of our country. Such issues include land ownership and use, poverty, equitable development, unemployment, and food security as a matter of urgency. Addressing these issues will be a step forward in a bid ensure peace, security, prosperity and stability in our nation. Indeed, most of the policies and bills to be tabled before the Third Session of this Parliament will deal with these matters. In particular, land policy and consolidated land bill will be tabled in parliament during this session. Out of our concern and determination to embark on these NAIROBI 00000809 007.2 OF 009 issues, I and the Prime Minister recently launched the Kazi Kwa Vijana initiative, as a short term measure to create employment, while dealing with poverty and hunger in poor rural and urban communities. Further, the Cabinet has recently authorized implementation of the Youth Employment Programme, which is a wide ranging long term employment and development strategy for our country. The youth constitute the largest and the most productive segment of the population in this country. We must provide them opportunity and the enabling environment for employment. By so doing we are injecting youthful creativity and energy into the economy. To address the same issues further, the Government is pursing two initiatives. First, the Government will establish Special Economic Zones along strategic transport corridors in key cities and towns. Here, the Government will provide land, utilities and infrastructure as well as other investment incentives to support and fast-track investments in these Special Economic Zones. Second, the Government is working on the establishment of the new Northern Transport and Development corridor, together with the construction of the second port at Lamu as mentioned earlier. These initiatives capture most of the key flagship projects under VISION TWENTY THIRTY and also address poverty, unemployment, food security and commercialization of agriculture, infrastructural development, trade, tourism, industry, and security, simultaneously. As a Government, we are clear in our minds that poverty, food security, crime, unemployment and equity are inter-connected and must therefore be addressed in a holistic manner. In support of the above initiatives, the Government will be presenting to this House key policies for adoption by parliament. These include the Integrated Transport Policy, the Trade Policy, the Industrialization Policy, the Business Incubation and Technology Parks Policy, and the Food Security and Nutrition Policy, the Cooperative Development Policy, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Development Policy, the Wildlife Policy, the Tourism Policy, the Land Policy, the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, and livestock development policy. The Government will also present the various Bills that are relevant to the policies mentioned above. Mr. Speaker, The development of our human resources and human capital is crucial to our endeavor for an equitable and prosperous society. Justice demands that all Kenyans must be given equitable opportunities and access for social development. We are especially concerned with ensuring that persons with disabilities, poor households and communities, children, youth, aged persons, and the sick are well provided for through national policy and legislative frameworks. We are also aware of the need to provide our youth with employable skills. My Government will, therefore, be tabling before this House the Social Protection Bill, the Policy on Older Persons and Ageing, and the Persons with Disabilities Policy. We shall also table several bills including the Children,s Act 2001 (Amendment) Bill, the National Youth Council Bill, the Sports Bill, the Technical Institutes and Vocational Education Training Bill, the Higher Education Bill, and the Social Protection Bill. With regard to providing expanding access to health care, safe drugs and medicines, and emergency support to all Kenyans, the Government will be tabling the Health Sector Policy, the Veterinarian and Pharmaceutical Drugs Policy, the Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plants Policy, the National Fire Policy, the National Disaster Policy, and the National Alcohol Policy. These policies will be accompanied by several bills that include the National Health Insurance Fund (Amendment) Bill and the Public Health (Amendment) Bill. Mr. Speaker, The Government is aware of the need to strengthen the capacity and competence of our governance and judiciary systems. We need a firm establishment of the rule of law, and timely and fair dispensation of justice, for our country,s economic and social transformation to take place. In that regard Government has approved hiring of more magistrates and judges to match the case load. There will also be a much higher budget allocation to the judiciary to cater for NAIROBI 00000809 008 OF 009 additional staff and court requirements. My Government will therefore introduce several new policies and bills in this sector. These include the National Human Rights Policy, the Legal Education Policy, the Judicial Services Bill, the Small Claims Courts Bill, the Law Reform Bill, and the Legal Education and Council for Legal Education Bills. In reforming the Judiciary we must be guided by the constitution and the tenets of the rule of law. The reforms we are proposing in the Judiciary are especially critical in the fight against corruption. Such reforms will support expeditious delivery of justice as a key pillar in the fight against corruption. The envisaged reforms will be extended to investigative aspects of corruption. This will ensure speedy conclusion of investigations and action against the perpetrators of corruption that we must effectively deal with in our country. Mr. Speaker, In order to strengthen Kenya,s capacity to conduct an effective regional and foreign policy, my Government will be tabling the Kenya Foreign Policy and the Kenyans in Diaspora Policy. Other important policies and bills that will be brought before the House to strengthen public service reforms include the Local Government (Amendment) Bill and the Consolidated Regional Development Authorities Bill. Mr. Speaker, The policy and legislative agenda I have outlined is clear evidence of the Grand Coalition Government,s resolve to implement most of the issues raised under Agenda Four of the National Accord. I urge Honourable Members to consider the policies and bills enumerated above in a timely manner, so that we keep Kenya firmly on the path of progressive reform and transformation. Mr. Speaker, I wish to assure the Honourable Members that the Grand Coalition Government will always protect the territorial integrity of our country. However, diplomacy will always be our first line of response. In this regard I call on Kenyans to be patient as we resolve the issue of Migingo Island. I am in constant communication with the President of the Republic of Uganda on this matter, and we have agreed to resolve the issue amicably through demarcation of the boundary by the Joint Kenya/Uganda Boundary Review Committee. As a member of the East African community we are bound by the Treaty of the East African Community to resolve all our disputes peacefully. Indeed, any differences that may arise out of such disputes cannot outweigh the huge benefits we all derive from our co-operation. I wish to reiterate that our country will continue to play a frontline role in international affairs. Kenya is guided by the desire to entrench peace co-existence, expand trade and promote mutual cooperation,s among nations. We shall abide by our international obligations so that Kenya can take its rightful position in the family of nations Mr Speaker, In order to improve security and delivery of services closer to our people, in line with the demands of the majority of members of this August House, we are in process of enhancing the status of the remaining constituencies into districts. As I conclude my remarks, I wish to urge the media, civil society, and our youth to consider the national interest when exercising their freedoms of expression and association. But we must do so with a sense of responsibility to ensure that exercising our freedoms does not result in damage to private or public property, or damage the country,s national interest and image. Burning of people,s houses or school property or uprooting of a portion of a railway line are too costly to us all and do not benefit anybody Mr. Speaker, finally, let me wish all the Honourable Members of this House fruitful and lively deliberations in the third session. It is now my pleasure and honour to declare the Third Session of the Tenth Parliament officially open. NAIROBI 00000809 009.2 OF 009 Thank You and God Bless You All End text. RANNEBERGER