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{
    "id": 247137,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/247137/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 228,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Maj-Gen. Nkaisserry",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 192,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Kasaine Ole Nkaissery",
        "slug": "joseph-nkaissery"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to support and recommend that the reports on both the visits to Djibouti and the DRC be adopted by this House. As a member of this very important Committee, I have some points to make. Kenya is strategically located in the Horn of Africa, but unless we engage in very active participation in the political arena of the region, we may be left behind. We are equally a most important and peaceful country in this region. The mission of the Committee is to promote parliamentary diplomacy. It means that in our region our Parliament is in a position to lead the way in democratisation, demanding for good governance, economic co-operation and enhancing transparency and accountability in our region. I am saying this because when we look at the economy of the region we see that we need to enhance our diplomatic relations with other countries. I am glad that the Minister for Foreign Affairs is here. We had an opportunity to meet him. We told him why we need, as a country, to have an effective ambassador to the DRC in order to be able to market our image and goods in that country. We heard from him that the DRC is the fourth largest trading partner with Kenya. We proposed, after our visit, that a consulate be opened in Goma in eastern Congo. In that way, all our goods will be easily marketed, hence we will be able to increase our trade in the DRC. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, our recommendations will have far reaching impact on our economy. They will also improve our diplomatic relations with other countries. When you look at the situation obtaining in DRC you will realise that we are likely to have a UN peacekeeping force stationed in that country. Kenya should actually be in the forefront in the region in sending peacekeeping forces to this country for two reasons. First, it will be useful economically because dollars will be sent back to Kenya by the peace keepers. Two, it will make it a leader in the June 14, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1397 Great Lakes Region in military and political matters. We request that this House urges the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to adopt our recommendations. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}