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{
    "id": 1264182,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1264182/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 279,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kikuyu, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The Vice Chair will tell you that it is true that over time our country has been losing its premier status in the region as one of the countries that contribute immensely to the UN and other regional forces like AU. We have very good and disciplined officers in our army but some of the equipment they use may not be as good as it ought to be. Some were acquired when Major Bashir was still in the army. He has been out of the army for this long, but they are still using the same equipment he used when he was there with Hon. Raso. When our very disciplined and good officers serve either in the UN or other regional forces like in Somalia and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we in a way also benefit as a country because the UN gives money to pay for equipment and officers’ allowances. Many officers serving in our military occasionally lobby very aggressively to serve in units that serve outside the country because it is beneficial. Therefore, when they lose such opportunities on account of not having modern equipment but vehicles that are rickety and a little bit older than they ought to be, and do not undertake continuous training and capacity building, we lose as a country. It is important to have a separate fund for this money. Whenever money is contributed from the UN and it goes into the Consolidated Fund and finds Members of Parliament demanding for the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) disbursement or our gracious ladies demanding for the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), governors demanding for money to be disbursed to counties or if the money comes at a time when public debt is due for payment, there is no way of creating a distinction between what money ought to go to peacekeeping missions or what should go to debt repayment. The money is put in one pot, the Consolidated Fund and ends up being used paying part of our debt and settlement of other national obligations leaving our military officers to operate with equipment that is almost obsolete. They will also not have capacity building. Basically, when our young men and women serving in the military are out there in the bush fighting to restore peace, they serve under very strenuous conditions. We should not put them and their families at home under any more strain or stress. It is therefore important to have this money in a separate fund where we can ensure that they are able to access it as fast as they need it to buy equipment and feed officers out in the field. I support the establishment of this Fund. In conclusion, our military has served in very many jurisdictions, from Bosnia to Somalia, now in DRC and a good number of them are still in Somalia. Our neighbours, the Sudan, have problems. As neighbours and African brothers, we have a duty and responsibility to the neighbouring countries to ensure there is peace in those countries. We may not need to strain our regional forces to go and restore peace because it is all about politics in Sudan. I 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."
}