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{
    "id": 1105884,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1105884/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 128,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Kang’ata",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The same applies to a resident in Boston, Massachusetts and Texas in the southern part of USA. Currently, they are compelled to go to Washington DC where the Kenyan Embassy is located to seek consular services, including renewal of passports. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am aware of one person who is my personal friend who lives in Washington. She is the wife of a friend of mine called Dr. Francis. The mother died in Kenya, but she was unable to travel back to Kenya reason being that she found her passport had expired and, therefore, by the time she would have gone to Washington DC to renew it, the burial would have taken place. Therefore, the mother was buried in the absence of the daughter. So, this is one of the areas that we need to remedy if this Bill was to pass. The same applies also to the Kenyans who live in Arabia. I am sure you are aware that we have a huge immigrant Kenyan community in places like Dubai, Lebanon, Egypt and all those countries in the Middle East and also in northern Africa. However, we do not have the Kenyan Embassy in all those countries. So, you will find Kenyans who live in those countries that do not have embassies travel for long distances to seek consular services. Therefore, this is one of the proposals, we are proposing that we amend. We now want the Government of Kenya to devolve consular services. The other proposal is the idea that Kenyans who are who have returned to Kenya from abroad need to be taken through a certain programme to acclimatize themselves with the local conditions and get back into this country after spending many years abroad. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am also proposing that we have a special desk that will be established by the Ministry to address matters of the people of diaspora. That desk can be a department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that we ensure diaspora matters get the relevant policy and legal intervention and representation in the Government. Currently, matters of diaspora are subsumed in the larger Ministry of Foreign Affairs epoch and that for me needs to be remedied. Another proposal in my amendment is to establish a mechanism to reward Kenyans who are in the diaspora who do a very good job to lead the Kenyan communities in those countries. They do a very good job to market the Kenyan name outside Kenya. For example, you will find in the UK, there is a Kenyan chapter of immigrants who live there. You will find there is a chairman of that Kenyan local chapter. That chairman does a very good job to bring Kenyans together, to mobilize and support some Kenyans who are in distress, but they do not get any form of recognition. I take this opportunity to thank the Government for awarding me the Chief of Burning Spear, a very important State commendation. However, I feel Kenyans in the diaspora should get similar recognition. There are many Kenyans out there, who are also entitled to these kinds of rewards. However, to the best of my knowledge, I am not aware of any Kenyan who has ever received any State commendation despite the good work they do in the diaspora. Why did I bring this Bill? What geared me to consider bringing this Bill? For the longest time in this Republic of Kenya, coffee and tea have been the largest source of foreign exchange. Let me also thank those who practice horticultural agriculture, particularly in the region of Rift Valley. However, in the last several years, diaspora remittances are now the leading net entity that bring foreign exchange to this Republic."
}