HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 131051,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/131051/?format=api",
"text_counter": 357,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Kabando wa Kabando",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports",
"speaker": {
"id": 31,
"legal_name": "Kabando wa Kabando",
"slug": "kabando-kabando"
},
"content": "2934 gave a message emanating from the Republic of Kenya through a peace-maker. She is doing a lot of work in Kapenguria, where I have been with the Chairman of the AMANI Forum. She has put a lot of efforts in Mount Elgon this year, last year and the preceding years. Tegla had made a lot of efforts in Karamojongâ, across the border in Uganda. She has even been received by the First Lady of Uganda, Madam Janet Museveni and the President, hon. Museveni, himself. Therefore, it is important for that Forum to be regularized in Parliament, so that it can become a programme that will take the peace message deeper. That will also give it an opportunity to deepen its work within the country. We realize that apart from what we must do in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia and other countries in the Great Lakes Region, we need to ask Kenya to come out better than she is. I was very astonished when I watched Cable News Network (CNN) last week during the Afghanistan elections. One of the candidates was saying that in Afghanistan, they do not want to have election problems and be like Kenya or Zimbabwe. It was being watched in the whole world; people exemplifying Kenya with a country like Zimbabwe. It is true that we went down. Therefore, it is important that the AMANI Forum becomes the corner stone that will build the house of Kenya as a Republic, celebrated and recognized as a nation of an optimistic community. In 2002, we were rated across the world as a very optimistic community. When I was in Berlin, I saw a British national walking in the streets with her nails painted in Kenyan colours. We talked to the lady with hon. Pesa and she has never been to Kenya. That shows recognition. Again, when our athletes finished the marathon and achieved a gold and silver medal, we were being stopped in the streets by people who wanted to be photographed with us. That is because we are from Kenya. They were mentioning the names of Henry Wanyoike, Paul Tergat and Catherine Ndereba. Those are names that, sometimes, even in our secondary schools, we tend to forget easily. Therefore, there is need to brand Kenya better and AMANI Forum will have an opportunity, once this Motion has been passed and the forum facilitated through Parliament, to connect with the potentials that exist in this country that will brand Kenya better. The Brand Kenya Board is doing a lot of good things. The Board gave special cards to our athletes when they finished. So, everybody who touched or greeted our athletes received a card that said: âThis is a country that has unique characterâ. The sort of posters that Tegla Lorupe was giving in the streets, in Olympia Stadium and in the meetings that she held with the dignitaries are the kind of programmes that need to be formulated wider. The AMANI Forum has that opportunity and an obligation, as an affiliate of Parliament, to connect and ensure that we put our image at a better and different level, so that we can harness the goodwill that we have in the world, but which is depleted through some reckless statements. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, in conclusion, when I was away, I read online the comments of the Assistant Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Mwiria, on the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission. I have also commented on that. When our colleagues hear some of us making comments and criticisms on some of the Government initiatives and yet, we are in the Government, it is not because we are limited in our perceptions. It is because we are ideologically clear that this country needs to develop a character. This country is not without individuals, ladies and gentlemen, who can provide a refreshing initiative. I also appreciate you as a"
}