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{
    "id": 1265438,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1265438/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 418,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Marakwet West, Independent",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Timothy Kipchumba",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for allowing me to contribute to this very important Motion. I rise to support this defence co-operation between the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Seychelles. I thank the Committee led by the Chair for presenting this Defence Co-operation Agreement. Unlike yesteryears, the veil is being lifted on military engagements in Kenya. Initially, matters to do with such were hidden and were not subjected to public participation. I want to thank our current legal framework in this country because we conduct public participation on matters that would otherwise be hidden from the public. It is unfortunate that the Chair, who has moved the Motion, indicated that there was no memorandum received from the public. In future, the Committee should look at more avenues of conducting or engaging the public. It is important that we get the input of the public with respect to this very important Defence Co-operation Agreement. I have heard the Chair put it clearly that all engagements will be guided by the Constitution of this country and all the other laws. If you look at this country's history, we did not have such engagements at some point, and military officers from other countries would come to this country, and they would not be subject to our regime of laws. In other areas, women have given birth to children of different colours and those responsible are not held accountable. But if we have such kind of an engagement, they will be told that they will be liable under the laws of Kenya if they mess up in the country. The engagement in the agreement is also very clear that they will respect the local culture of our people. That is very important because those military engagements normally happen in areas that are not occupied because of the expansive nature of their trade. Those areas still retain their cultures."
}