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{
    "id": 1086049,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1086049/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 115,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kajiado Central, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Memusi ole Kanchory",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1661,
        "legal_name": "Elijah Memusi Kanchory",
        "slug": "elijah-memusi-kanchory"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. For the benefit of other Members, I will try to take just two minutes. Let me start by congratulating the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations of which I am a Member. I also thank the Chairperson of that Committee for his very good leadership. This was a Bill that the Committee put a lot of effort to come up with. It is a historic Bill because, despite the importance of foreign relations to a country, we do not have legislation to guide this very important Ministry. A lot has been said by my colleagues. The importance of foreign relations to a country cannot be underestimated. Let me quote Lee Hamilton, a former US Congressman, on the importance of foreign relations: “You need to have a strong military and be prepared to use it on occasion as a last resort. But you certainly have to have a strong diplomacy. Almost all of these problems that we are dealing with, I think all of them, ultimately have a political solution. You do not get that kind of solution through military action; you get it through diplomacy, negotiations, consultations, endless meetings and conversations of all kinds with your friends and your enemies. We need a strong diplomatic effort in order to advance our interest in the world.” This statement speaks to the position that Kenya has taken with its neighbours. In many instances, Kenya has had to play a lot of diplomacy in dealing with its neighbours. I happen to lead a constituency that borders another country. In many occasions we have seen potential conflicts between our people in trying to do business across the borders and in many other aspects. Most of the time we call upon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to come in, in a way. But this is an area that is not guided by legislation. It is a grey area. This Bill seeks to bring in a lot of guidance. It seeks to speak to a lot of these issues. My colleagues have spoken to aspects of professionalism in Foreign Service. This cannot be underestimated. As long as we have a Foreign Service that is run professionally and as long as we have trained our personnel, our image will be carried by those who represent this country out there. I have heard a Member saying that she hopes this Bill does not concern a particular ambassador. I want to assure this House that this Bill has not come about because of anybody. It has come about because of lack of legislation in this area. We also know that laws do not apply retroactively. So, if we had made certain mistakes, the Bill does not seek to affect anybody. So, I support the Bill strongly and urge this House to do the same and to enrich it. Let Members give their views. We will have time to go through the whole Bill. Let Members give their contributions and propose amendments so that we enrich this Bill for the future of this country. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker."
}