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{
    "id": 1151702,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1151702/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 194,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Saku, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Ali Rasso",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13473,
        "legal_name": "Dido Ali Raso",
        "slug": "dido-ali-raso"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for your kindness. I rise to support this Bill. I consider it to be a watermark Bill for somebody who comes from a military background. I joined the Military when I was 19 years old. I left the Military when I was in my 50’s to become a politician. I changed my military fatigues for a civilian suit but, in my bones and blood, I still believe I am a military person for the kindness of serving my country with patriotism and honour. This Bill coming at the tail end of the life of the 12th Parliament is a watermark Bill because previous attempts to bring this Bill encountered a push and pull situation. I thank the Leader of the Majority Party and the current Chief of the Defence Forces, Gen. Kibochi, who has vigorously believed that something must be done in the life of the second Government of President Uhuru Kenyatta, and also in his life time, as a general who will be leaving the Military in a few years down the line. I just want to share a story about the Second World War. In 1942 in South Pacific, an American warship was sunk by a Japanese fleet. In this warship there were five brothers who chose to fight together. Historically, this changed a lot of things in the way the Americans manage their war machine. It was uncalled for to have five brothers fight on a single ship. They were later known as the Sullivan Brothers and they were celebrated. The General who was in charge of the navy was writing letters of condolence. He wrote the first letter and signed, wrote the second, third, the fourth and when he was given the fifth letter he said, oh my God, this is so big a thing that I cannot sign it as a General. It can only be signed by the Commander in Chief. In this particular incident, the letter was signed by the then President of the US Franklin Roosevelt because the occasion was big that one family can be told about the death of all of their five sons. The family was asked what they felt about it. The mother said that if given the same opportunity, they would do it again. It made men of them. She said; “my boys did not die in vain.” When people join the military, it is not a job; it is a calling. Although it provides opportunity to many, there is not much to gain through resources as most of the time will be spend in the field training, battle field and a few months in the barracks. The contact with their families and the civilian population is quite limited. That is why for an army man whether he is Navy or Air Force, the chances of them embellishing themselves in life by building big industries or housing is not there because they are called in defense of the mother land. That is why when we think about what happens to a soldier who comes out of Somalia having spent six months or one year there, they are likely to even have lost their families. Maybe somebody just got married and they are moved The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}