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{
    "id": 1192379,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1192379/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 113,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mandera North, UDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Major (Rtd.) Abdullahi Sheikh",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mombasa will be used by DRC to ensure that its people benefit from transportation of goods and services. The most important part is that the DRC is now part and parcel of EAC. The fact that they joined this year does not allow us to just look away and see them wasting away in terms of conflict. From 1996 to date is a long period of time. Therefore, we want to ensure that as brothers and neighbours, we partake in ensuring there is stability in this area. My Chairperson has alluded to the fact that the initial deployment will incur additional funding from the Exchequer. I want to confirm that is very true. It is important to note that all the other countries sending troops to this force such as Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan and Tanzania, are all getting involved in ensuring that their resources and funds are utilised. And therefore, it is not just Kenya that is sending its troops using its own funds, but it is something that is being done collectively through the EAC. After the initial deployment of six months or one year, we are likely to attract funding, and the Exchequer pressure will go down. Ensuring that there is security is normally expensive. It is never cheap. We need to take all the necessary precautions to ensure that our neighbour which is a member of the EAC is equally stable. Kenya has done perfectly well in previous peace missions but this is a bit different as I said before. It is a peace enforcement mission. We must ensure that our troops are comfortable in terms of their own safety as they provide security to the people of DRC. This then calls upon the Government of Kenya to ensure that our troops are well equipped and well taken care of. And it is necessary that some of the additional funding is set aside for the equipment. As I had earlier stated, this conflict started in 1996, but the initiative of the EAC to come together to contribute troops is likely to ensure that the conflict comes to a stop. It is important to note that in DRC, we have proxy wars. Many players, both ethnic, geopolitics and everything takes place in DRC. The good thing about this is that Kenya does not share a border with DRC, and therefore, the safety, security and trust towards our troops by the players in that conflict will be very high. So, Kenya is expected to play a leading role to ensure that there is stability in DRC, EAC and the whole of Africa. With those many remarks, I want to ask the House to pass this Motion. I second."
}