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"speaker_name": "Mr. Ethuro",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Planning and National Development",
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"legal_name": "Ekwee David Ethuro",
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this Motion. I come from Turkana District. The issues affecting Mt. Elgon District are similar to those affecting other marginalised areas in this Republic. Whether we speak about 84 deaths or a maximum of 150 deaths in Mt. Elgon District, the issue is that a Kenyan life has been lost. People have been displaced to the extent that we have internally displaced people. As a country, we brag that we have brought peace in Somalia and Sudan. Charity begins at home. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this occasion is for this House - as the representative of the people - to show concern about the killing of people in Mt. Elgon District, whether we are on the Government or Opposition side. It is cheap politics to introduce brinkmanship in this House on such a matter. We have 101 occasions to demonstrate our ability to convince voters, but not on this matter. Mentioning names and blaming people will not resolve the problem of clashes in Mt. Elgon 358 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 4, 2007 District. It is good for this House and the nation to get informed by the statements that have been made, and especially the one by Prof. Kibwana. We also want to hear what the Minister of State for Administration and National Security is doing regarding that matter. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this House is making that matter a national issue so that the necessary Government apparatus can deal with the problem at hand. This House is entirely convinced that the Government has the capacity, power and resources to deal with that issue. We wish it moved there yesterday. We want to bring a sense of urgency to that matter, so that it is not just considered as a small issue somewhere at the border-point and be said: \"Who cares?\" We care! Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I really do not care about the root cause of the problem. What is important is to put the necessary machinery in place, so that we can stop those killings. We have learnt that it could be land clashes or some form of crime. But the Government has a responsibility to protect the lives and property of its citizens. I know that the Minister of State for Administration and National Security has deployed almost 1,000 police officers in that area. Unfortunately, our police officers always disappoint us. That is why we are calling upon the Minister to go to the ground and show some empathy. He should be there to direct things. I speak from the Government side. I stood to support this Motion. So, when hon. Members say that the Government is supporting insecurity, I do not know whether they have requested the Minister of State for Administration and National Security to look into their issues. We are all in the Government and we are supporting continued security in this country. That notion should disappear from the hon. Member's minds. What is important is that we all go to Mt. Elgon District and make sure that no single life will be lost from today henceforth. Those are Kenyans. People might be tempted to do whatever they are doing this being an election year. However, we want to allay fears that this Government will not look for votes over blood. That happened on the other side, but not this Government. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have shown Kenyans that we have improved infrastructure, lowered the price of commodities and that all the things that matter to the Kenyan farmer or pastoralist, are important. That is what will get this Government elected. Kenyans will not elect us on the basis of futuristic thinking. They will elect anybody on the basis of what has been realised. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we want the issue of Mt. Elgon resolved. As I speak, there is a border dispute between Turkana and Pokot districts. We also want the Minister to address that issue. We have cattle rustling in the upper eastern area and we want it to be addressed. That is why I am looking at this issue from the point of view of this question: Are we having a perception that these marginalised and geographically displaced places are seen in a different light than maybe a problem in the heart of Nairobi? As the Chair made the ruling, Kenyans wherever they are, are sovereign. Mt. Elgon people are sovereign. They do not belong to the Rift Valley Province and that Rift Valley Province does not only belong to a particular community. With those remarks, I support the Motion with speedy conclusion to the clashes."
}