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{
"id": 1192376,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1192376/?format=api",
"text_counter": 110,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Belgut, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Nelson Koech",
"speaker": null,
"content": "These are some of the things that the EAC treaties and agreements would open up, and have these matters domesticated to allow even Kenyans to operate in the DRC. We already, have Equity Bank in the DRC and its peace is as good as ours. Having received the request for approval of deployment of KDF, the Regional Force analysed both the oral and written submissions made before the Committee, and appreciated the applicable legal regimes at the UN, AU, EAC and at the country level. The Committee observed the following: 1. The deployment request had complied with the relevant legal provisions of UN Charter 2. The EAC Treaty 3. The EAC Protocol, Peace and Security 4. The EAC Protocol and Cooperation of Defence Affairs 5. The Constitution of Kenya 6. The KDF Act No.25 of 2012 The budget provided in the request to the Kenya National Assembly is Ksh4.451 billion catering for only the initial six months envisaged in the deployment. The KDF and Kenya Army are anticipating that in a very short time of about six months, under the plan to upgrade stability in the DRC, and the plan like any other strategic move, we expect our officers to be there for only six months. In the event that there would be a spill over, and that is in case, the troops stay longer, the annual cost implication will approximately be Ksh5.5 billion to Ksh6 billion. It is however, envisaged that international financing made it secure for the operations, and if it materialises, the Cabinet Secretary will apprise the Committee accordingly. I am informed that there were talks with other international organisations like the United Nations, and other organisations that are willing to finance this operation of DRC. For the short time however, all the EAC countries that have sent their troops to DRC, will initially, cater for their cost which we estimate to be Ksh4.4 billion in the short term which is six months. If it escalates and there is a spill over of our time there, it will get to Ksh5.5 billion to Ksh6 billion. The East Africa Community and Regional Force (EACRF) to the DRC has a peace enforcement mandate like the United Nations Operations in Somalia (UNISOM) in the DRC which only had a peace keeping mandate. I would like to emphasize that the mission we are about to do, is going to enforce stabilisation unlike the other one. Our officers will likely, be armed than what we had before with UNISOM and the peacekeeping. Our peacekeeping forces will use minimum force, and only in exceptional forces. Possibly, that is why it explains the very slim budget requested by the Ministry of Defence. Having reviewed the request for approval of the deployment of KDF to EACRF to DRC, and considered it in the context of the EAC, legal framework on Peace and Security, Article 240(8)(a) of the Constitution of Kenya and Sections 18(c) and 36(2)(a) of the KDF Act No.25 of 2012, the Committee recommends that the National Assembly approves the deployment of KDF to the EACF to DRC. We took our time as a Committee, and we have observed the concerns of several Members in terms of how our officers are going to be treated and the equipment they are going to use. It was a concern of several Members within and outside the Committee that we already have our officers in Somalia; and many have lost their lives; and again, we are sending other officers to DRC for the same exercise of peacekeeping mission. Sometimes, it is very easy to say we remain peaceful in our country, take care of our interests and let our officers stay in the country. By doing so, we will save costs, lives and we will perfectly be okay. That however, is not the case. We must secure our region. 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."
}