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{
"id": 1354804,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1354804/?format=api",
"text_counter": 158,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Maanzo",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13589,
"legal_name": "Maanzo Daniel Kitonga",
"slug": "maanzo-daniel-kitonga"
},
"content": "As we go to the Third Reading, we could come up with suggestions to improve it much further to match with modern technology. However, now that these are cultural practices, if the respective Members of Parliament (MPs) from these areas are engaged and are able to talk freely to the State, they can give solutions. Other than having this law that will bring some order and sobriety in this business of cattle rustling, there must be knowledge to people who are useful to the country. What is the role of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in Kenya? Intelligence should be given as to who the dealers are so that they are dealt with in a better way. If they do not follow, the harsh law can be applied to them. They can be cracked down without losing lives on both sides. Unfortunately, these seem to be very well-trained people. They are used to the harsh climatic conditions. So, when we send our army or the police who do not even know the geography of the area very well, it becomes very tricky for them. Even when the police use helicopters, they have to fly very high because these cattle rustlers shoot without missing with the only bullet left which is dangerous to our officers. So, they cannot fly too low to identify, execute or stop. So, there is need to come up with a system and a law like it has been proposed now so that this matter can be settled, once and for all. Most importantly, the communities and the leadership should be engaged. All these people are known. There is no community in Kenya with unknown people and where they live. If someone is driving 1,000 cattle or sheep, which is such a huge number, they can be spotted from far. If they are drive 1,000 cows for 1,000 kilometres, do they not pass through places where there are chiefs, Assistant County Commissioner (ACC), County Commissioner (CC), police and Government systems, including the Anti-Stock Theft Unit? It means there is knowledge in the communities. Having been a cultural practice, we also have to respect the rights of these people. This law has tried to come up with a solution. I believe it can do better. The Government also needs to get serious with the policies, which have been there and are now being legislated. The information I have gotten by engaging our friends from those regions, is you could see the smile on their faces and know that there is some information they are not telling you. Where do these people get the bullets and guns? How come these guns are not known or registered? So, there is something here which has to be dealt with so that the cultural practices are also respected so long as they are not repugnant to justice. One of the complaints given is that the Government does not give education to these people. Therefore, they have no other way of earning a living. Again also, in some of the practices, getting married is a very expensive affair in terms of cows. So, a young man has to go for cattle rustling to get enough cows to give as bride price. Out of the pressure to get married, have a family and to show off to prove that you are a man, you end up in this practice and, probably end up losing your life, there. You do not come back to your community and that dream is lost."
}