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{
    "id": 1433005,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1433005/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 275,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Eldas, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Adan Keynan",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 41,
        "legal_name": "Adan Wehliye Keynan",
        "slug": "adan-keynan"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Chairlady. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in any civilised democracy is an interface. In our context, it is the interface between Kenya and the outside world. This diaspora State Department has proudly evolved from a diaspora desk and a diaspora directorate. In 2009 when the then Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations brought a recommendation to have a diaspora State Department, everybody was shocked. Today, everybody appreciates the contribution of this State Department. What I want to ask my colleagues and the able Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee is that, if we really want to make meaningful gains out of our economic diplomacy, the least we can do is to appreciate the existence of this State Department. It is actually the number two Ministry after the Office of the President. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be funded adequately so that our missions represent the President. That is why they fly our national flag. I am glad that some of the former ambassadors are here. When ambassadors are outside there, they can proudly project, promote and protect the image of this very important country called Kenya. When we send them outside the country and we do not fund them, they become paupers. Let us remember that there are countries that survive on donor contributions to manage their mission affairs. Kenya is not in that league. Kenya is a donor nation. Kenya is a very proud nation. Therefore, we should be the first ones to fund our representatives wherever they are. That is the only way we can proudly say that we are one of the members of the civilised nations. I support."
}