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{
"id": 106329,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/106329/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Nyaga",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Co-operative Development and Marketing",
"speaker": {
"id": 269,
"legal_name": "Joseph Nthiga Nyagah",
"slug": "joseph-nyagah"
},
"content": "The repeal of this law will go a long way in ensuring that people in those parts of Kenya feel that they are Kenyans. For the sake of the younger people in this House, I would like to clarify that the reasons as to why this law came into being is that after Independence, there was the Shifta War. Those of us who were in Nairobi felt threatened by what was happening in those parts of Kenya, which had been the Northern Frontier districts. It was for that reason, amongst others, that this law was introduced. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it does not make sense, therefore, to continue having this law in our statutes 45 years after Independence, when those regions have become part and parcel of the larger Kenya. People from those areas are now senior members of this Government, unlike during that time. They participate in the public sector. They participate in the economic sector. They even feel Kenyan. In fact, if you go to parts of Nairobi, you will know how much contribution some people from those areas have made to the economy of this country. It is, therefore, important that this law is removed from our statute books, and that the communities of those areas feel Kenyan. It is for that reason that I support this Repeal Bill. I want to thank my friend, Amb. Affey, for bringing this Bill to the House. These are some of the laws that should get out of our statutes, once and for all. When the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) was created by this House, most people thought that we were only addressing the problems that occurred following the 2007 General Election. There was a feeling that we should only be addressing the issues of post-election violence that happened in December, 2007/January, 2008. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, many of us who do not come from the northern part of Kenya have not realised that people in that area also need to have a chance to make representations to the TJRC and receive a fair hearing. When this Bill passes into law, it will help people in those areas, just like those of us who were affected by the post-election violence. They will feel Kenyan, because their grievances will be listened to. So, the passage of this law will help to make all of us feel Kenyan. If we delay the passage of this Bill, and people in those areas do not get this golden opportunity to make their representations before the TJRC, one day, it will give us a problem. We have a golden opportunity for everybody in Kenya, who wishes to be heard, to talk. It is for that reason that I support this Bill. May I also encourage Kenyans serving in the public sector who may get transferred to those areas, to prove that those are parts of Kenya. Quite often, when people are transferred to serve in those areas, they feel that they are being punished. Let us have a positive attitude. After all, oil is about to be discovered in those areas. Those areas have huge economic potential and we have a new Ministry dedicated to those areas. I want to urge those of us who have never been to those areas and who feel that working there is a punishment, that some of the best places to"
}