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{
    "id": 1403195,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1403195/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 93,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Likoni, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Mishi Mboko",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I stand to support this Motion, by Hon. Ruweida to establish a priority boarding protocol for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the Special Forces. First, let me send my sincere condolences to the families of our Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) the late General Ogolla and the other gallant soldiers who perished recently. May their souls rest in eternal peace. Our KDF personnel are very important people. While performing their duties most of the time, they do it in very risky areas. If Members of Parliament, Cabinet Secretaries and other personnel from the public sector can get some priorities, especially in certain areas like the airport, railway, banking halls and bus stations, why not our gallant soldiers? Those are people that need to be recognised, motivated and honoured. Apart from giving them priority in certain areas, we need to ask ourselves: What is the risk allowance given to our gallant soldiers, especially when they go for operation in risky areas? I was shocked one time when I was consulting some personnel from the KDF. They said some get Ksh600 and others Ksh1,000 as risk allowance. That is very little compared to the work that they do and the risky ventures they expose themselves to. Of importance, our soldiers and Special Forces are not only performing security and peace keeping missions, but they also go an extra mile, for instance, during conflicts and acute crisis. I witnessed that during the Kaya Bombo clashes in Coast region and the Molo clashes. They intervene and go an extra mile to ensure there is peace. They ensure that those people who are affected get food, medicine and so many other necessities. Hon. Temporary Speaker, from what Hon. Ruweida has just said, our KDF personnel perform special programmes and projects in Lamu, Pokot and North Eastern. They have done so many social programmes like the intervention in schools and health services. It is high time we put in place a framework in terms of legislation. Do we formulate some policies or we keep some regulation just to ensure that the welfare of our soldiers is taken care of? I am looking at those who go for peace keeping missions, for instance, those who went to Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I have a good example. I am married to a KDF man and he was among those who were attacked during Kulbiyow attack. He lost three of his fingers on the right hand and to date, he has not been paid. We have been following that matter. It is almost four years and yet, he has not been paid. More so, many other gallant soldiers who lost their lives, their families have been going up and down looking for their dues, but they do not have it to date. It is high time we gave them priority in areas of protocol, but we also need to research and know about their welfare. Those men and women work day and night in remote and risky areas. How is their welfare being taken care of? I am looking at those who perished recently 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"
}