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{
    "id": 1229425,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1229425/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 169,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Belgut, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Nelson Koech",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "How are we handling the case of Agnes Wanjiru? In my quest – with the support of the Committee – to deliver justice to this family, I have had several meetings privately in my personal capacity and officially as the Chair of the Committee to try and find out what happened. This matter has been raised very many times in the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. Ten years down the line – even though the memories are fading – it is not too late to find justice for the family of Agnes Wanjiru. The Committee that I chair has made serious recommendations. I want this House to know that, shortly, we shall be inviting the Director of Public Prosecution to find out what exactly happened to Agnes Wanjiru. The body of Agnes Wanjiru was found two months after her brutal murder in a septic tank. The only reason that her body was found was because it was a Facebook taunt by the United Kingdom military officers. One of them confessed that when they left the bar on the fateful night, one of their colleagues committed the heinous act of murdering Agnes Wanjiru. However, as much as we want the United Kingdom Government to repatriate the officer who participated in this murder, like I said, we still have a problem with how we structure our agreements and treaties. That is why I said that this House must be involved in the writing of treaties and, at times, making recommendations. I want to inform this honourable House that, as a Committee, we have had very many discussions, and justice to Agnes Wanjiru must be provided. Due to the above-mentioned concerns, among others, at the end of the 12th Parliament, the processing of the Agreement had not been concluded. A draft report was prepared but was yet to be tabled, debated and adopted by the House. Through a letter dated 22nd November, 2022, the Agreement was re-submitted by the Cabinet Secretary for Defence, Hon. Aden Bare Duale, EGH. It was consequently tabled in the House on 24th November, 2022 and Committed to the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations for consideration. The Committee was expected to consider the Agreement and recommend its adoption and approval by the National Assembly with or without reservations. The agreement contains 26 Articles. I will just highlight a few. Article 2 of the Agreement identifies its objective as enhancing bilateral co-operation on defence by identifying a framework for the exchange of experience and knowledge for the use and mutual benefit of the Republic of Kenya and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Agreement will regulate co-operation in the following areas: 1. Security and defence policy. The United Kingdom Government has continued to be of great importance on matters of defence, especially when we are dealing with terrorism. They have continued to provide personnel and materials in Excess Defence Articles (EDA). Some of the equipment we use we get them from them almost free. 2. Defence administration and welfare matters of military personnel. On this one, I had mentioned that there is always an exchange programme between our military and the United Kingdom military in trying to make sure that they bring our officers up to speed with their sophisticated advanced training in areas like counter piracy and other maritime security activities. In fact, until and up to 10 years ago, the Kenya Navy used to send officers every year to the United Kingdom for training on naval tactics. We have gained a lot from that experience. When you engage officers who have gone for that training, they will tell you that the kind of training that they undergo is exhaustive and it is an extremely important exercise."
}