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"speaker_name": "Mr. Sungu",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, some of the issues raised are obvious. I am only going to mention them in passing. I believe my colleagues have really hit the issues on the head. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Report addresses the situation in East Africa. It particularly talks about the situation in Darfur, Sudan. The major comment I would like to make is that, from time immemorial, African governments have continued to bury their heads in the sand when it comes to African issues. This happens to the extent that one would imagine that the Heads of State in Africa always want to support each other whether they are in the wrong. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Sudanese Government has been in a situation where it even turned away the United Nations (UN) officer seconded there to help solve their problems. Sudan is on record as having refused the UN troops as part of its peace-keeping process. This kind of thing will not help us solve some of these conflicts. The Government of Kenya has been at the forefront of working for peace in the whole of East African region. We have spent a lot of money and effort in Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Southern Sudan. However, when African governments fail to observe agreements, we will all fail. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would also like to comment on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). There has been an effort to get peace and, progress has been made in that region. In fact, they had elections in that region recently. The other day, there was a situation where a small war developed because one part of the opposition failed to agree that having lost elections, they should have agreed to work with the Government. I would like to say that this kind of situation is not very good and this Report addresses that very well. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, talking about the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), it is well connected with the question of water, natural resources and the environment. The DRC is blessed with one of the largest natural rain forest in the world. The natural resources in that country are so enormous. The River Congo itself, that majestic river which is about five kilometres across, if harnessed for power, Africa would not be in need for power at all. It has the potential of providing about 90 per cent of Africa's power needs. Minerals in that country cannot be harnessed because of the conflicts in that country. We must also connect that to Kenya and my colleagues have addressed that issue. April 11, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 567 I would like to say that the eco-system in Africa is very delicate. Whatever happens in the rain forest of the Congo, whatever happens in the Mau Escarpment or Nandi will eventually affect us all. As it has been said, the level of water in Lake Victoria is going down and that is because we have failed to address the issue of the forests that have been \"raped and reaped\" by various governments in the past. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, finally, there is the question of human rights. Human rights is of such importance and until Africa is able to address that issue properly, both in this country and elsewhere, we will never be able to progress as a country. The world has become a global village and in that respect, whatever happens here will affect other parts of the world. It is important that this Government should respect human rights of the people of this country including the indigenous people like the Maasai who have been marginalised in terms of resources that actually belong to them but are being reaped by other people. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}