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{
    "id": 584606,
    "url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/584606/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 225,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ndiema",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1067,
        "legal_name": "Henry Tiole Ndiema",
        "slug": "henry-tiole-ndiema"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this very important Motion, which from the outset, I support fully. In so doing, I thank Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. for bringing up this Motion which is very important. This Bill seeks to set out the framework within which historical injustices can be tackled once and for all. Our Constitution provides under Article 67(2)(c) that the NLC has the responsibility to initiate and recommend action on historical land injustices. Unfortunately, several years have now passed and no action has been taken by the Commission, and yet they continue struggling for space, trying to get some responsibilities, while this responsibility which falls squarely within their mandate has not been touched. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I do not know whether it is because of historical injustice that it is deemed less important, but let me say that historical injustices remain historical injustices and they are embedded in the hearts of the people and pass from generation to generation. Historical land injustices have continued to be a source of suspicion within communities. It is also a source of lack of cohesion and at times, it manifests itself in ethnic clashes. Even cattle rustling is not just cattle rustling but the root cause is historical land injustices. This is what contributes sometimes to political polarizations. In this country, we are trying to say we are Kenyans and we want parties to represent all communities and we want to speak one language, but the issue of land remains a main factor which divides our people, and especially the historical injustices. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, even during the colonial times when the Europeans came, I would say those are the first people who grabbed land. If there is any grabbing, those are the ones who grabbed our land. Subsequent grabbing is as a result of the original grabbing, and in that grabbing, there were people and communities who were displaced. Some of them were totally displaced and their displacement has never been addressed to date. There are many communities, for example, the Masaai, Sen. (Prof.) Lonyangapuo mentioned Trans-Nzoia and named the Sabaot, sometimes referred to as Elgon Masaai, and so many other communities. The Sabaots in particular in Trans Nzoia, I would say were totally displaced and some were pushed to Uganda, some went to as far as Congo and Tanzania. They continue returning in bits but they have nowhere to settle because there is no land land left for them. Unless these historical land injustices are addressed and people resettled, there will always be suspicion. The struggle for Independence was mainly for one thing; for the communities to regain their land. The settlers left and we say we are independent but what about those communities or individuals who were deprived and never regained their land? Can they really claim that they partook of Independence? As we speak today, some communities feel they have not come out of that bondage; that they are still deprived and they are still waiting for their independence because their independence will come when land injustice will be addressed. 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."
}