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"id": 215036,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. G.G. Kariuki",
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"legal_name": "Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to say something about this Motion. When you listen to the hon. Members and the Minister who moved the Motion, you wonder what has gone wrong. If you look at the country the way it is and you look at the Government--- The Government which is so popular! The Government has overwhelming support from the people of this country. The President has a very strong following in this country, more than any other. But you ask yourself several questions: What has happened that crime is rising? What has happened to our police and Kenyans? You wonder whether we are on different wavelengths. The idea here is to have the police equipped with all the equipment that is required. Two, the public knows very well that this country belongs to them. Yet, it is like we are not going to control the insecurity situation in this country. The way things are going, I do not see any light at the end of the tunnel. That is because you have seen the problem of young people fighting with the police. They have come out to fight with the police. What will be the next situation? Those young people are politicised. They have become political insurgents. I want to admit and submit here that it is going to be a big problem in our hands. I think what is happening today--- We cannot guarantee security in this country by just fighting to kill. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, years back, there was a need to arrest criminals, so that they can give all the information. But, nowadays, I think even if a criminal comes up and surrenders, he is answered by bullets. I think there is something definitely or drastically wrong. We need to look at our situation. Let us not just compete to kill each other. Let us find a solution of some kind. Is it a societal problem? What is it that we cannot--- I do not want to advocate like others who said that we should sit down and talk with criminals. I believe that when somebody takes arms against a legitimate system of Government, that person is an enemy. But I think you need to ask yourself: The guy is not mad and he has taken a gun against the system! I think there is a need for us to look at that matter critically, than we are looking at it now. I do not believe--- And thank God because it has not yet turned political. It is very likely that, that is where we are going, if something cannot be done between now and a few months to come. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, you can see that the Government has tried to stop cattle rustling. The Government worked very hard in that direction. But this urban warfare is going to be a big problem in our hands. I think there is a need for us to look at it philosophically and find out what could be the problem. I think it is not just that the people want to kill each other. There must be something wrong somewhere. When you read newspapers every morning or look at the news every evening, there is nothing else! Murder has become an entertainment in our newspapers, radios and televisions. I think time has come when we must now, as a Government and the people of Kenya--- It is not just the Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security. This problem is now beyond one Ministry. It is a problem of the nation. The entire Government and the people of Kenya need to think about how to deal with that situation. Mr. Minister, you are asking for Kshs30 billion. But even if you asked for Kshs60 billion and the people are not ready to deal with this situation once and for all, it will not help anyone. When you look at the war between the young people and the police, where did it come from and how did it start? How did we allow it to start until it became a serious matter? If those people used to live on hand-outs from the buses and matatus, why did we allow it in the first place? Why do 2374 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 10, 2007 you stop them now? I think this matter is becoming more serious. I think the issue of security in this country needs to be really looked at again. The Minister who is in-charge, and whom I have a lot of respect for--- I think we should change our attitude against the current problem and find out how we can get out of it. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to thank the Government for creating new districts. There are some hon. Members who think very strongly that the Government made a mistake! I think we even need more districts today. If I can give a genuine example--- The new district that we got in Laikipia West has reduced crime in that area. The kind of crime that we used to experience--- But now that the administration is closer to the people, a lot of things have changed. It is not like it used to be. Hon. Members should not get disappointed just because their people do not agree on the boundaries. They should look at it in a bigger scope than what they see. Those who are not willing to have new districts, why should they be forced? If people do not want a district, just withdraw it! What is the problem? If they do not want it--- You are bringing it to the people and if they say they do not want it--- Do you really want it? What do you want it for? If Mr. ole Ntimama does not want a district in Narok North; why are you pushing him to have it? Take it to Laikipia West. Add another district in the North because that will really help us. I think we need to be careful when we just stand here and talk as if the Government has committed a crime. This is a political Government and if creating a district or assisting the people to have a new district is going to improve their welfare and their security, let them have it without fear. Let us be honest with ourselves and agree that there is need for those districts. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in an area where you do not have a motor vehicle to be used by security personnel, and you do not have communication equipment, then there is something which has gone wrong. One does not necessarily need a vehicle to have communication equipment. We are now forced by circumstances to use the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) to buy that equipment, because people are suffering. So, the priority that is given to the regular police and the Administration Police needs to be understood clearly. Why is it given? Even for the transfer of the administration officers like the district commissioner and others, you need to have a reason as to why you are moving a certain person from one point to the other. Is it just for political expediency, or is he going to improve that particular area more than the person who has been there? We need to look at those matters critically, and not just enjoy seeing people being moved from one place to another. All in all, I think this Government can be said to have done quite a lot. If you look at the improvement and reforms in all Ministries, I think they need to be commended. We need to support this Government, because if---"
}