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{
    "id": 1198888,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1198888/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 114,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kamukunji, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Yusuf Hassan",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 398,
        "legal_name": "Yusuf Hassan Abdi",
        "slug": "yusuf-hassan-abdi"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for the opportunity. Since it is my first time to speak in the 13th Parliament, I want to thank the wonderful people of Kamukunji for bringing me to this august House. I want to pledge, as I have done before, to work for them humbly, respectfully and even harder for them in this Parliament. Speaking on the issue of EALA, I want to put this particular issue in the global, international and regional context of the geopolitics of our country. The East African Community is one of the most important regional institutions and perhaps one with the biggest potential in bringing together the people of the region not only in terms of economic corporation but also eventually the main vision of the East African people to have East African political federation. Knowing that in fact East Africa is our biggest trending partner and our biggest political allies and EALA has been an Assembly that legislates the laws of this region, it is very important that we send the best minds that we have in this country. I must say that during past elections of Members to EALA, unfortunately, the case has always been to push people who have been rejected politically, and to use the EALA as a garbage dump to get rid of people who perhaps have not been selected for leadership positions in the country. The EALA Members are the face of Kenya. We must send our best minds to push the vision, mission and aspirations of East Africans. If we send someone who has no clue other than the fact that they have been given a position of payment and privilege, we will be failing in that objective. I urge this House and the leadership of political parties and the country, to take this matter very seriously and send our best minds to represent us in the East African region, which is a building block for the bigger vision of a united Africa that can play its role on the global arena. This is so that Africa can take its place in international politics, be heard as a continent, and become players on the global stage. The EALA is just the beginning. It is the first step for us to assert the fact that we want a stronger economic and political East Africa. We then go to the African Union where we have a new trade agreement for the whole of Africa. The EALA will play an important role in that. That is why we should be very serious with regard to the people that we send there. It is not just a job for the boys and girls. It is a job for people who can push us forward, put our name up there and develop laws and legislation that will lift up the East African region, make it a regional power in Africa and a major player in global affairs. Thank you, Hon. Speaker. 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."
}