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"id": 16482,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Keynan",
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"legal_name": "Adan Wehliye Keynan",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Motion is coming at a time after we have had a heated debate on a certain Question that has had an overlapping effect on the same. The issue of security or any issue that touches on the national security of the Republic of Kenya is an issue that all of us regardless of our regions, religion, or party affiliation, we must all jealously guard. To this extent, we must at all times not trivialize very important and sensitive issue like the security of the Republic of Kenya. One of the reasons why Kenya as a premier nation has a lot of stake in the peace and stability of not only Somalia, but also the whole region is because Kenya as a leading nation has the moral duty to lead from the front. This means providing leadership as a very responsible member of the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), IGAD, East African Community (EAC) and COMESA. As a result of being a member of this regional block and the international organization, Kenya has gained reputation as a diplomatic, communication, infrastructural, security, humanitarian, and economic hub of not only East Africa, but also in the whole of East, Central, Horn of Africa and Southern Africa. As a country, we must defend this very important perspective of the Republic of Kenya. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, before I proceed, on behalf of the Members of the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations and my own behalf, I would like to send condolences from the Floor to the five gallant sons of the Republic of Kenya who were serving in the Kenya Defence Forces and who lost their lives in pursuit of criminal gangs who were hell bent to cause mayhem along the Kenya/Somalia border. Even with the slightest differences in opinion, this is a matter nobody should fail to appreciate. We must appreciate the unique role performed by our Armed Forces and other security agents. To this extent, we should also not use historical stereotypes. We are all familiar with the making of the Republic of Kenya. It is not by mistake. It is not our choice that we have communities that live along the border. We have communities that live along the borders of Lake Victoria. They have linguistic similarities and even general features. The same is true at our border with Ethiopia in Turkana; and also at the Mandera/Wajir/ Garissa border with Somalia. This is part of our national heritage. Last year, I want hon. Ojode to listen to this very carefully. A number of Kenyans were sent to Uganda. I do not want to prejudice the Report which is about to come. However, out of the 13 who were sent to Uganda, only one was a Somali. That gives you an idea that when Mungiki is found in Turkana, nobody has the audacity to say that all the members of the Kikuyu Community are members or sympathizers of Mungiki . Therefore, we have to deal with organized crimes if we have to deal with criminals. Criminal responsibility is an individual phenomenon. Nobody should be allowed in the Republic of Kenya under the guise of whatever law to insinuate any bad motive on any particular community. This is because the war against terrorism requires all of us to rally behind our flag and that we jealously protect the sovereignty of the Republic of Kenya. This cannot be debated. This is not negotiable. It is something all of us have sworn to do. All of us have said that we will protect our country. Therefore, the issue of requiring travelers to produce identification documents is an international phenomenon. When the Minister in charge of internal security attempted to respond to that particular aspect, the obvious answer would have been that this is an IATA requirement. Therefore, what we should guard against is anything that will infringe on the civil liberties of individuals. Asking one to identify themselves at any entry point, in my opinion, is legitimate. It is right for as long as it is done properly. Indeed, it is an international requirement. It does not matter which nationality you come from, because if you travel anywhere, that is a requirement. However, that notwithstanding, we must also be conscious of one fact which is that ours is a nation of many nation-states. We have communities which constitute the backbone of the Republic of Kenya. Any aspersion or the slightest negative imagination on any particular community is not accepted constitutionally. Therefore, as the leadership of the Republic of Kenya, we will not accept that. My Committee had an opportunity to visit the border between Kenya and Somalia. We also visited a number of hospitals. In the next few weeks, we will be tabling close to eight Reports on different aspects and areas that we visited. To that extent, we are familiar with what is going on in every part of the country. We have given our support to those gallant sons and daughters who are guarding our borders. It is the cardinal responsibility of the leadership of the Republic of Kenya not to be a complaining machine every now and again. The protection of our internationally recognized borders is an important ingredient of the existence of the Republic of Kenya. Recently, we have had problems in Migingo, Turkana and elsewhere. These issues must be resolved through internationally accepted mechanisms. That is why the United Nations (UN) has given all independent states time to conclude all issues touching on their borders by the year 2012. I wonder whether the leadership of this country has put in place any measures that will ensure that we have beacons in all parts of our internationally recognized borders. That hinges on our sovereignty and, therefore, this matter should not be trivialized."
}