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{
    "id": 1263220,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1263220/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 369,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wamatinga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13582,
        "legal_name": "Wahome Wamatinga",
        "slug": "wahome-wamatinga"
    },
    "content": "As a Member of the Kenya Kwanza Government, it is my prayer that this will be the Government that will see the fulfillment, even if to appease the souls of the departed, conclude this matter and bring it to a close. Indeed, the way we value life as a country at times leaves a lot to be desired. America is one of our development partners. Strategically, we have always placed ourselves in the line of fire, more so when it came to protecting the interests of Americans and Kenyans because of our long dating relationship. It is also good to hold the hand of your younger brother when something befalls him. What we are saying without wanting to be headlined as begging, is for the Americans to realise that in this region at that time when not many people stood with them, Kenyans did. We have always stood with them. Madam Temporary Speaker, it is high time we brought this matter to a close by ensuring those who passed on and the survivors who got maimed and injured, can at least feel somebody cares for them. As we address the victims of the bomb blast, there are several other issues and losses of lives through wildlife. I sit in the Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources. I know that there are several people who have lost their lives through human-wildlife conflict and it still remains a non-issue. If I am not wrong, we need over Kshs8 billion to compensate those who have been injured, killed or maimed by wildlife. Madam Temporary Speaker, in a country that cares for its citizens, it is important that we put the right policy in place. Most importantly, without wanting to be seen like we are rewriting the book of Lamentations, we must admit that we have a moral obligation to those fellow citizens who cannot come to this House to speak for themselves. I am encouraged by the words spoken by Sen. Mungatana and Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale. It is high time we brought this to a close because it is painful. It is 24 years down the line and we are still discussing something that ought to have closed long time ago. It would also be very unfair not to mention that we have seen how Kenya unite in a big way whenever such a thing as bomb blast and Westgate terrorist attacks happen. We have seen Kenyans come together to pull aside the rubble to try and save their brothers and sisters. I only ask myself: What happens to Kenyans when it comes to the political arena? I do think that we, as the fourth Senate, we should rise to the occasion and say that whatever we are doing in this House, we will go beyond the lines of political parties, ideological differences and stand up and say we are in this House debating issues, Motions and passing Bills because they are good for posterity. Madam Temporary Speaker, I would want to be described in the annals of history as such: When Sen. Wamatinga was in the Senate, he was able to stand up regardless of the political affiliation and press for issues because they matter for the Kenyans. This is one of those issues. It is not Kenyans from the minority or the majority who were affected, it affected Kenyans. When everything is said and done, we are still Kenyans. This is something that maybe collectively, we can pool together our efforts so that we can make the leadership that comes and goes, address issues that are real and that affect Kenyans."
}