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{
    "id": 726789,
    "url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/726789/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 371,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. M’uthari",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1576,
        "legal_name": "Joseph M'eruaki M'uthari",
        "slug": "joseph-meruaki-muthari"
    },
    "content": "I also note the fulfilment of international obligations by the Republic of Kenya. As per the Report, we realise that Kenya is making great strides in terms of fulfilment of international obligations. We also have the Kenyan foreign policy that looks at the protection of Kenyan sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is looking at the question of promoting integration, enhancing regional peace and security, advancing the economic prosperity of Kenya and the Kenyan image and prestige. This, to a large extent, means that our President, through this policy and also his involvement as the first diplomat of Kenya, we have made serious strides in terms of promoting the Kenyan image abroad. In the last few years, we have seen improvement of the Kenyan image abroad. We have seen this country hosting important global leaders. Many global leaders have visited Kenya in the last two or three years, for example, the immediate former President of the USA, the head of the Catholic Church and other world leaders have come here. I believe this is part of the good image of Kenya abroad. Kenya has hosted some very important conferences and conventions and all this has gone well. Despite all this good effort, we have had some setbacks. Just recently during the election of the chairperson of the African Union (AU), we lost. That is a reason for us, as a republic, to ask ourselves why we our neighbours, who purport to be our friends, stab us in the back when it comes to particular moments when we need their support. It is our neighbours who made our foreign affairs Cabinet Secretary, Ambassador Amina, to miss the opportunity to be the chair of the AU. This is a question we have to ask ourselves. What is it and why did it happen? What is it that we are not doing right or what interests are there? We are also aware that between nations, it is not a question of friendship, but about interests. What are our interests as a people? What is the interest of the other nations? I would also like to note the issue of security. As a nation, we have had some improvement in that sector although it is still a big challenge especially in Pokot. What happens in this Republic is a shame. When you are in the year of election, then several areas in Pokot experience serious or continuous incidences of cattle rustling, it is a national shame. After all these years of Independence, we still have some areas in our country where citizens rely on robbery with violence as a way of livelihood. Cattle rustlers are people who go robbing other people with guns as if it is business as usual. These incidences have occurred even within my constituency of Igembe and our neighbours. You wonder where 20 or 100 head of cattle go when they are driven away. You also wonder how this kind of stock can be traced to the neighbours and then disappear. Something more serious must be done. Communities that thrive in this bad practice must be deterred and we must go to the root cause of the menace. It may be connected with either neglect or insecurity of the people. This must be looked into. It is high time this House strengthened the pieces of legislation that would make it possible to curb insecurity in this Republic, so that all communities live dignified lives. There is no dignity in stealing, taking or destroying the livelihood of other people. With this, I note this Report. It is the responsibility of every Kenyan to make all this work. It is not only the responsibility of the President, but everybody including Members of Parliament."
}