Mwai Kibaki Quotes

Constitution! Wisdom. Justice. Moderation

I think the government has a role in protecting the fundamental rights of its citizens.

Two things form the bedrock of any open society - freedom of expression and rule of law. If you don't have those things, you don't have a free country.

We also intend to deal with the issue of incorporating basic human rights into our new constitution.

As long as I have any choice in the matter, I will live only in a country where civil liberty, tolerance, and equality of all citizens before the law are the rule.... These conditions do not exist in Germany at the present time.

It is during our most challenging and uncertain moments that our nation's commitment to due process is most severely tested; and it is in those times that we must preserve our commitment at home to the principles for which we fight abroad

The legislative and judicial powers are completely subordinated to the executive; the division of powers, the sovereignty of the States, the liberty of the common councils, and the rights of the citizens exist only in writing in our great charter; but, as a fact, it may almost be said that martial law constantly exists in Mexico

There should be constitutional liberty of speech and freedom of thought, which is the elementary right of every citizen under any civilized form of Government

After 200 years, the 1st Amendment remains only as strong, or as weak, as the citizens it is designed to protect.

Our rights to live and to love each other, those rights are greater than any other right in the Constitution, period.

We are a constitutional democracy. We must deal with things properly within the framework of the law and then the constitution.

What are we fighting the terrorists for if we ourselves do not even stand up for democracy - civil liberties and fundamental rights - which includes independence of the judiciary?

If we are Russian citizens, treat us as Russian citizens. We want equality and justice.

Loyalty to the principles upon which our Government rests positively demands that the equality before the law which it guarantees to every citizen should be justly and in good faith conceded in all parts of the land.

Human rights are fundamental rights, they are the minimum, the very least we demand. Too often, they become the goal itself. What should be the minimum becomes the maximum - all we are supposed to expect - but human rights aren't enough. The goal is, and must always be, justice.

Education and justice are democracy's only life insurance.

I don't think any country can survive as a prosperous and dignified country unless there is rule of law.

According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I [the Lord] have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles.

The law can seem remote, arcane, the stuff of specialists. But it isn't, because for those of us who live in democracies, the law begins with us.

So long as we govern our nation by the letter and spirit of the Bill of Rights, we can be sure that our nation will grow in strength and wisdom and freedom.

Being democratic is not enough, a majority cannot turn what is wrong into right. In order to be considered truly free, countries must also have a deep love of liberty and an abiding respect for the rule of law.

I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an independent judiciary, and fighting corruption, those are principles that, you know, not perfectly but generally, we have tried to apply not just in our own country but also with respect to our foreign policy.

Our constitution enshrines the rule of law, freedom of worship and expression, we cherish these values too.

Democracy is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve the sacred promises of human dignity, justice and peace.

We have a democracy within the bounds of a constitution which provides certain guarantees related to the basic humanity of every person. I think that's the best way to go.