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{
"id": 215013,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/215013/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Maj-Gen. Nkaisserry",
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"speaker": {
"id": 192,
"legal_name": "Joseph Kasaine Ole Nkaissery",
"slug": "joseph-nkaissery"
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"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, that is part of insecurity. Look at the militia harassing people in Kwale District. Look at the perennial cattle rustling in East Baringo, West Pokot, Samburu, Turkana and Marsabit. Look at the cross-border raids from neighbouring countries in Moyale and Mandera. Look at urban crimes. Look at the inhumane eviction of humans from their land. Kenyans want to live in peace and this Government must provide that environment. We must understand that security leads to development and without security, there is no economic development. I am very surprised that for the last four-and-a-half years, this Government has continued to lament over the issue of funding of our security services and yet the Government has the power and authority to marshall all the resources so as to fund the security services so that development can take place. Mr. Speaker, Sir, when we mention the issue of small arms, this Government should have taken drastic and positive measures to mop up all the arms within this country. The Government has continued not to appropriately fund that institution. I am the Vice-President of the Parliamentarian Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons. We have made specific recommendations to the countries of this region regarding the issue of small arms. I do not know how to respond critically to this Vote, because the Office of the President has six Ministries. There is the Ministry of State for Administration and National Security, the Ministry of State for Defence, the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs, the Ministry of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons, the Ministry of State for Public Service and the Ministry of State for Special Programmes. It is amorphous. When the Minister was moving this Vote, I did not even July 10, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2363 hear him requesting Parliament to approve the budget for his Ministry. He just said that he wanted Kshs29 billion, but he did not say: \"I now request this House to approve---\" Since I am the Shadow Minister and, maybe, in six months' time, I will be the occupant of that position, I now have to appropriately request that our security services need to be properly funded. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I was looking at the Printed Estimates and when you look at the departments under the Ministry of State for Administration and National Security, they were given a very raw deal. But it is the Government which is supposed to budget for the security needs of this country. I am surprised that the Minister would come to this House and start lamenting that he requires 3,000 vehicles when he could have budgeted for them. With regard to the issue of threat to national security interests, I would rather put the question to the Minister: What is the extent of threat to Kenya national interests and how do you mitigate that threat, both internal and external? I am happy that the Minister of State for Defence is here. How do you safeguard national security interest? What is the cost of providing national security? We have the police to take care of the internal security. How much do we need? Take the example of the police communication, police mobility, the forensic laboratory and the capacity of the National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) to be able to stop drug trafficking and money laundering. How do you budget for that? We must come up with those factors so that we support the Government or the Ministry, so that citizens can have peace. But when the Ministers come here and say that the police force needs housing--- First of all, that is an issue of welfare and boosting of morale. For them to be able to work and defend us, they must have good welfare and housing. We must give them good housing. In addition, we have to insure the policemen, because the criminals are now more sophisticated. How much has the Ministry set aside to insure the policemen, so that they know that when they put their lives on line, their Government or country is taking care of them? These are the critical issues that should be addressed in the Budget. I think we are not addressing these issues critically, positively and objectively. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to propose that for the police force, particularly, to be able to deal with crime, which has risen to an unacceptable level, the Ministry should take into consideration the issues of morale, insurance and welfare. Why should policemen - and I would like the Minister to listen to me - carry G3 rifles? They need light weapons with maximum fire power in order to deal with criminals. Why should they carry G3 rifles on the streets of Nairobi, as if they are in the battlefield? The Government should give the policemen weapons that are compatible to the insecurity situation. I have emphasized the issue of the welfare of the police force, especially housing and insurance, which are very important. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we have a Ministry in the Office of the President which is in charge of special programmes. We have a problem because the Minister has not indicated how much has been allocated to that Ministry. Food security is also a national security issue."
}