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{
    "id": 227061,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/227061/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 232,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Obwocha",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Planning and National Development",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 356,
        "legal_name": "Henry Onyancha Obwocha",
        "slug": "henry-obwocha"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, if you want me to withdraw the references, I withdraw them. I am addressing them as hon. Members of Parliament. As you know, the issue of increase in small arms is troubling this country. When a number of our people were killed, including some eminent professors who were killed in Ongata Rongai, a commentator in one of the FM radio stations, which I listened to very carefully, said that he wished that one Member of Parliament, who is a Minister, should be killed, so that the Government can take the necessary action. Then I was left wondering what this FM radio station was up to. Whether one is a Minister or an ordinary person, it is a Kenyan who has been murdered, and we need to be concerned. One need not kill a Minister or a Member of Parliament for the Government to know that we need to do something about insecurity. All this is because of the small arms that have found their way into this country. We need to do something about it. Another thing I want to talk about is the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). As we all know, the EPAs are coming to an end in December and African nations need to come together to be able to negotiate with the European Union and have new agreements sorted out and signed. These economic partnerships are important for the development of our nations. We need to do something about this. I want to end by saying that the ACP arrangement is a useful configuration. We need to make use of it, because when you deal with a bloc of countries, you enjoy an advantage in issues of trade. The ACP is going to help Africa on issues of trade. As we know, the COMESA region has a population of about 400 million people. With a bloc like this one, we know that we can do a lot in terms of trade. Therefore, we need to co-operate with it, and also with the ACP. I would like to conclude my remarks by saying that we support this Report and our membership to the Assembly. We expect that all other hon. Members who belong to other blocs and associations outside this country should also bring their Reports to this House With those remarks, I beg to support."
}