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{
    "id": 1545432,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545432/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 217,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Veronica Maina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I have noted with a lot of interest the venue where this Conference took place. That was in Hanoi, Vietnam, an interesting destination, which has been in the discussion of Kenyans lately, because of Kenyan, Margaret Nduta, a lady from Murang’a County, whose fate is hanging on the thread because of having been convicted for capital punishment due to offences or accusations related to drug peddling or drug trafficking, or whatever it is that Nduta has been faced with, noting that Vietnam has very strict drug laws. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, before I finish commenting on the Global Conference on Young Parliamentarians and because Nduta is a young woman, for the last week or so, I have seen a whole hearted petition by Kenyans to the Government to quickly do what it can and have bilateral discussions with the Government of Vietnam and reverse the fate of Nduta from hanging by the rope or getting a lethal injection.; and she be allowed to face the Kenyan judicial system. A caution we should throw to the young people is that many countries and jurisdictions are very strict on drug offenses and drug charges. It is therefore very important that when young people are approached to do certain things, they should be very cautious as to who gives them what to carry or transport and the suitcases they have while traveling so that they do not find themselves in the situation that Nduta found herself in. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we thank the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs for reaching out to the Government of Vietnam to discuss this matter and the fact that the punishment was delayed as the governments are discussing is also important. We know an offense could be an offense but we do not know how that process went on. However, we also know that the Kenyan judicial system is eager to enforce the criminal law jurisdiction. I am sure that if Nduta was returned here, she would still face the Kenyan judicial system and this may be lighter for the family. We therefore continue to hope that the Government will discuss and see that the fate of Nduta is reviewed and that she comes back to face the music back home. Notably, Kenya has no bilateral agreement with Vietnam and maybe it is time for that because the nearest Kenyan embassy accredited to Vietnam is in Thailand. I do not even know how the delegation that was sent worked during this time. They must have had a lot of difficulties because Kenya does not have a mission down at Vietnam and now that we have relations with Vietnam, we urge the PS, Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, to ensure that now that the relations between Kenya and Vietnam are fostered, this should enable us put a foreign mission there considering that there are many Kenyans working in Vietnam. This will be fair and it will be a big honor and great service to those Kenyans if there was a foreign mission or a diplomatic mission that can serve them closer in Vietnam. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, both countries have issues that are of common interest that could be handled by that foreign mission. Having said that, I am wishing consolation to Nduta's Family back in Murang’a. Coming back to the report, the theme of this Conference was on the role of the youth in accelerating the achievement of the SDGs through digital transformation and innovation. I will jump to one of the items that were noted by the Secretary General (SG) The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}