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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to support the debate on the Vote of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was very ably moved by the Minister. There was a time when this country's foreign policy was \"wait-and-see\". We would wait until other nations acted and then we would respond. I am glad to note that the Minister is now being proactive. I am glad to hear that, indeed, there is foreign policy in draft form. As Ms. Ndung'u mentioned - I am not privy to that document since I am not a Member of that Committee - I hope that the Minister will table that document here, so that we can have a chance to debate it, elaborate the issues contained therein and, hopefully, improve on it. We are glad to note that the main thrust of that foreign policy will be economic diplomacy. The days when our foreign policy was mainly to support our friends, particularly those from the West, are gone. I am glad to note that we are now emphasising on contacts with countries where our economic interests are best served. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am glad that following His Excellency the President's visit to China, a number of protocols were signed. As a result of that, we were able to get some benefits, including repair of roads and other facilities which the Minister referred to. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, a country like India is also an emerging power house. I do not think it is a country we can ignore. We ought to give due emphasis to India and to ensure that our relationship with that country is good, not only because of our traditional and historical interests with them, but also because it is an emerging power that we must reckon with. The emphasis on Kenyans in the diaspora is important. This is not only because there are Kenyans working out there and we need to have a database like the one my colleagues said, but also because some of us have our own children out there. They have been married there and are now working in those countries. The Minister should be the first one to fast-track this idea of dual citizenship. These are Kenyans who, in fact, every year remit substantial sums of money to our country. They send the money to their relatives, friends and so on and so forth. More importantly, we must take care of their interests wherever they may be. There may be a few who are criminals and you cannot disown them, but the majority are doing an honest job wherever they live. So, we need to take care of their interests. We should pass the Bill on dual citizenship. I hope that will also be included in the minimum reforms package that we have been talking about. In fact, a Question was raised, earlier on, in this House, to that effect. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I know that we have a Ministry of East African Community, but I was surprised that in his remarks, the Minister did not refer to the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). These are of immediate interest to us in this country. Most of our trading relations are within the COMESA countries and the EAC area. We should fast-track the political federation of the now five countries, that is the original three plus Rwanda and Burundi. We should be spreading out to try and venture into Southern Sudan and Eastern Congo, because those are areas that we do a lot of trade with. We should fast-track our relationship with that block, and certainly our trading relations within the COMESA, which is where we do most of our business, should be of particular interest to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in terms of international organisations and international jobs, we actually do poorly. I, in particular, was in Stockholm when we discussed the possibility of the United Nations coming to Nairobi. I am glad that eventually it came to Nairobi, which is now the headquarters of the UN-Habitat and also the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Now, we have a fully-fledged United Nations Organisation (UNO) office in Nairobi. The Ministry should evaluate and see beyond those people who do small businesses with that office. What are we, as a country, benefiting in terms of personnel relationships? Are we getting adequate 3490 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES August 28, 2007 representation within the UN Office in Nairobi? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there was this time when there was a possibility of withdrawing--- In fact, it was a real threat two years ago. There was a possibility that the UN Office could close for whatever reason. I think it was mainly because of security and infrastructural shortcomings in this country. We should guard that office with all our might. We should ensure that, as a country, we get maximum value out of the UN Office in Nairobi. Our own staff should be fast-tracked in terms of employment. Kenya has played a major role in peace resolution in this region. Although one of my colleagues referred to a number of Kenyans who may doing business in the Southern Sudan, countries like South Africa and others maybe doing even better. The large number of Kenyans who are there are really small-time businessmen. However, in terms of the larger contracts that are being awarded, are we really getting enough from the Southern Sudan given the role we played in bringing about that peace which was a result of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)? I think we should evaluate and ensure that we get the best out of that relationship. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not think that we can be too proud of our peace efforts in Somalia. Although we played a major role in it, when trouble came in that country, and when the Islamic Courts were about to take over, we kind of hesitated! It was Ethiopia which was in the forefront in ensuring that peace - whatever you want to call it - was restored, yet we are the ones who played an important role, and even have a longer border with Somalia than Ethiopia. We should be playing a greater role in ensuring that the peace that we helped achieve in Somalia is actually maintained. This is because small arms are still finding their way into this country through our porous borders. Some of the problems we have had in this country, for example in the streets of Nairobi and other cities, are because of the too many small arms which have been brought into Kenya from Somalia. We should be able to play a greater role in ensuring that the peace that was achieved in Somalia is actually maintained. We have a lot more at stake than some of the countries have in that area. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am glad to note that the Minister now wants to purchase property for our Missions abroad. This business of paying rent on a yearly basis, when, in fact, some of those countries have been so generous--- They gave us land a long time ago, but we were not able to construct our own chanceries and residences for our ambassadors abroad. The Minister should be commended for now changing that policy to ensure that, in the future, we shall have properties for our own chanceries and residences for our embassies abroad. I think it is a worthwhile endeavour and we should encourage the Minister. If it becomes necessary, this august House should vote more funds to ensure that the Minister purchases and constructs, wherever possible, properties for all our embassies abroad. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the role of our armed forces in conflict resolution did not feature in the Minister's remarks. I know that we have Department of Defence, which should take care of the day to day needs of our armed forces, which have played an important role and actually made us proud. However, in terms of policy and what they have been able to achieve, I thought that, that was a matter the Minister for Foreign Affairs ought to have highlighted and flagged. This is because we have played an important role in that area. Sometimes when our armed forces are exposed to a lot of danger, say in terms of chemical weapons that are used where they are serving, we should be in the forefront in ensuring that our soldiers are safe and sound. Whatever part they play in those areas of conflict, we should ensure that they are safeguarded for the sake of their families. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those remarks, I beg to support."
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