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{
    "id": 1382098,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1382098/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 268,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mungatana, MGH",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, in debating and supporting this Motion, I want to ask the Hon. Member, sponsor and the Hon. Chairperson of National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, the Senator who has brought this, to also think of another angle to these issues of cattle rustling. Previous speakers have mentioned certain counties. They have mentioned Samburu, Baringo, Elgeyo-Marakwet and so on as having the highest incidences of cattle rustling. Even if we declare this a national disaster or set up a national task force or a special fund to deal with this cattle rustling, there is another issue which is the regional cooperation that is required for us to truly deal with this menace. Cattle rustling has emerged and it has transformed itself from being a mere cultural practice into an international organised crime. The players are securing huge profits from supporting and sponsoring this criminal activity. Cattle rustling is no longer the normal cultural thing that used to happen a long time ago, where people would go and get some cattle from somewhere, so that they could pay the bride price. It has become a business. It is not only a national business, but an international crime business. It is an organised crime. I appreciate the efforts that our Government has made through the current Cabinet Secretary in charge of Internal Security. The Cabinet Secretary has been there many times in that entire belt, making all efforts to be present and making declarations. However, even if you disarm only one community on the side of Kenya and then you do not disarm the other communities in the neighbouring countries, it will be a zero-sum game. It is time that we started thinking about regional cooperation. It is time that we put a thought into what the internal security Ministers from the three countries; that is, Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya. When they meet in those borders, will be able to achieve as a team as opposed to when we are acting or putting up measures independently. Madam Temporary Speaker, if we do so, some of our communities who are bordering those areas will have their guns and protection capacity taken away. Therefore, those who are doing cross-border raids will come in and do the very criminal activity, now against us, as Kenyans. Something needs to be done in terms of regional cooperation. Having served and still serving as the head of Delegation of this Parliament to the Pan African Parliament, I have seen the strength of coming together. When African nations come together, be it in the Southern, Eastern, Western or Northern caucus, a lot of things can happen. In the recent development, we have seen regional cooperation when we are proposing the candidature of Hon. Raila Odinga as African Union Commission (AUC) Chair. Madam Temporary Speaker, you have seen him speaking to the media and telling people that he has been able to meet various Heads of State and he has the support of Kenya’s Head of State. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services, Senate."
}