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{
    "id": 1085976,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1085976/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 42,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Eldas, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Aden Keynan",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 41,
        "legal_name": "Adan Wehliye Keynan",
        "slug": "adan-keynan"
    },
    "content": "economic interests. Times have changed. Over the years, diplomatic representation was equated to political representation. Today’s emphasis in any diplomatic engagement is economic diplomacy. Take Kenya as a very important economic and diplomatic hub. We have the UN office here, the only one of its kind in Africa. Kenya as a premier Republic requires talented, well-trained and well-prepared diplomats to take care of the economic, political and security interests as a responsible member of the international community. That is why today we are a member of the UN Security Council. That comes with other responsibilities. Kenya is a member of the African Union. Kenya is basically the only country in the region that has never gone through some sort of military rule. And we are proud. Whether elections are free or not, we have had election every five years since we got our Independence. This Bill comes at a time when this country requires the services of those special officers. I must admit, along what Hon. Charles Kilonzo has said, that this sector is not regulated. Officers are appointed haphazardly. At times, preference is given to political appointments, leaving our professional officers in the cold. This has created some sort of a rift. This Bill will take care of political appointees and the professionals in the Ministry. There is a provision for the establishment of an academy. There is a provision on how representatives are going to be appointed under different cadres. The cadres include high commissioners, ambassadors, diplomatic and consular representatives, honorary consuls, special envoys and attaches. Each one of them has a unique role, and the Ministry especially, needs to appreciate them. We have had that challenge and I hope in the amendments, you will have it addressed. Kenya, as a country, will continue to exist and we will continue to have diplomatic representatives. It is high time this country made deliberate investments - just like Rwanda has done - to invest in acquisition of properties for our missions abroad. The amount we have spent on rent in our mission in Tokyo can buy us missions for the whole of Africa and the only thing we need to do is to plan. Rwanda now owns properties and I do not want to demean any country. It owns properties in Kenya and the entire East African Community and that is one way of reducing costs. It may be expensive in a short while but cheaper in the long run. I urge the Chairperson and the Committee to include that particular provision. We will ever be in the United Nations. We never have a representative in the United Kingdom and United States of America or any other leading nation. It is high time we made deliberate investment to ease our work. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am sure you have seen people bash the late Idi Amin when you go to New York. If you go to the corridors of the UN, there is a Uganda House. The proceeds, rent or income from that particular building takes care of the Ugandan missions in many other jurisdictions. Therefore, when we dismiss Idi Amin as not having contributed to so many things, then you should know that, that is one of his products. He had the foresight. For us, some of the properties that we have acquired in Nigeria, Tokyo and a number of jurisdictions are by corrupt and ill-intended individuals. I hope part of this is a recovery mechanism within this Act, that those who play with our diplomatic engagements must face severe punishments. This is the only way we can project and promote ourselves and protect this premier Republic. My friend, Hon"
}