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"speaker_name": "Mr. Omingo",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Motion. From the outset, I want to congratulate the hon. Members who participated in this forum, and particularly the Mover, who has made it possible for us to deliberate on this very important Report on the Floor of the House today. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, my key point is on increase in small arms. A good neighbourhood is the best comfort that one can get. It does not matter how secure you are within your home, so long as your neighbourhood is not safe, you are not safe. As one hon. Members said, we can only resolve the problem of existence of small arms if we have a peace arrangement within our neighbourhood. We should also address the issue of our porous borders, so that we do not have infiltration of small arms into our country. This will ensure that we can have a safe environment. I recall with emotion the death of the professor who was shot in my neighbourhood in Ongata Rongai. Some young boys were holding guns, which had probably been hired to them for 578 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 11, 2007 as little as Kshs10,000. Guns are hired out to execute murders that leave families in anguish. The information we got following that incident was that the man was shot dead as he struggled to get out of a car on his crutches. A young boy who shot him said: \" Anatuwestia time \". So, he was shot as he struggled to get out of his car on his crutches. That is how casual we have become with our security. The casual manner in which this Government has dealt with security matters is obvious. It is not even serious with itself. It is, in fact, a shame that the rural home of the Minister of State for Administration and National Security was at one time invaded. Sometimes, lessons can wake us up from slumber, although most of us sometimes hardly wake up, because we happen to be in deep slumber. Recently, Mr. Michuki moved round the country, holding meetings with the Provincial Administration, teaching them how to exercise a colonial mentality and deal with the Opposition in order to take away the democratic gains we have made since Independence in the name of maintaining security, and at the expense of major issues like the Mount Elgon clashes. It is a shame! We do not know whether this Government is competent enough to continue being in office beyond tomorrow. It is amazing! You know as much as I do that there is no single stone that has ever been turned to unravel the many murders that have happened in this country. For the information of hon. Members, this country's intelligence system is the best in Africa, yet we have not brought to book a single culprit who has killed people. That tells you that this Government is in confusion, particularly in the sunset days of its term. It is, therefore, important that as we address security matters within our borders, we also address them in relation to our larger neighbourhood. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to relate tourism to security. The other day, two American volunteers were shot dead by armed thugs but nothing has ever been done to apprehend the culprits. We then keep on complaining that other countries are kind of declaring this country unsafe for their citizens. It is as if we are, ourselves, comfortable with the kind of insecurity around us. It is for this reason that we want the Tourism Police Unit strengthened, so that we can create confidence in our tourism industry. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we boast of receiving 1.5 million tourists a year. That is a big joke. This country can receive up to 15 million tourists in a year if we have good roads. I do not want to imagine for a moment that a Government Minister can say: \"They did not do---\" What they are confirming is that the kind of primitive thinking that was perceived to exist continues to be perpetuated by the system. Why do you want to believe in history when we had elections?"
}