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{
    "id": 584556,
    "url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/584556/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 175,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "September 24th, 2015 SENATE DEBATES 21 Sen. Sang",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I rise to second this Motion. When you were a Minister just before you were demoted, I was still a student in the university and I came to your office when we needed support and help for some students who were studying across the region. Due to the PEV and the challenges this country was facing then, we needed the support of the Government to ensure that those students could find their way to universities across in Tanzania, Uganda and other places. I want to confirm that you were one of the most hardworking Ministers. That demotion came because of you standing for justice. I am excited that today we are discussing this Motion as you preside over the debate in this House. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I want to appreciate that the new Constitution that was passed in this country recognized the existence of historical injustices. Members of this House, including Sen. (Prof.) Anyang’-Nyong’o, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, Sen. Obure - I am not sure of Sen. Madzayo, but I am sure he supported this Constitution as a Judge. Sen. Ong’era; by that time she was the executive director of ODM and the “Yes” campaign. From the Kalenjin region, Sen. Murkomen, then a young professional and I, played a critical role in ensuring that we have a new constitutional dispensation that recognized that there were historical injustices meted against our people. That is where we are standing. We have a progressive constitutional dispensation in this country that has recognized that historical injustices exist and must be addressed. Special recognition within the Constitution does not amount to much if we do not have the legislations needed to operationalise these constitutional provisions. The challenges that this country has faced, including the tribal clashes in Rift Valley and the coastal region, are associated with historical injustices. We, as a country, have a choice to wish away the existence of historical injustices indicating that this is a very emotive and sensitive issue. However, if we choose that we are not going to talk about it, touch or resolve it, it will forever haunt us. The other choice is that we, as leaders, make up our mind that however sensitive this matter is, we must bring it to a closure. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we should take time and address the issues of historical injustices. I come from a county that has had challenges. Right now, if you go to Nandi County, you will see huge tracts of land under the multinational companies. The communities living around these multinational tea estates are living in abject poverty. There are huge fertile lands under the multinationals. It is sad that local people who were driven out of these lands are living like monkeys in very hilly and dangerous places. We cannot discuss what to do with these lands after the expiry of these leases without interrogating the aspect of historical injustices and the suffering that some of the communities and individuals went through to create and establish the multinationals. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if you go to my county, we have some of the properties and lands that belonged to Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC). I took time and investigated how part of these lands found themselves in the hands of individuals. The rationale that was given is that it was being hived off to resettle the landless. If you go there, those parcels are registered in the names of who were who in the previous regimes. As I speak now, about 20 individuals own huge tracts of land and yet they were neither landless nor squatters. When it comes to squatters about 48 families live in one parcel of land. That means that it is an average of one acre per family. Each family is made up of an average of five members. You can imagine the human population on that small piece of land. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}