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{
    "id": 2576,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/2576/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 267,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Musila",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Defence",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 94,
        "legal_name": "David Musila",
        "slug": "david-musila"
    },
    "content": "They have conducted themselves with a lot of courage and professionalism. There is no doubt that ours is a very disciplined force. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, our forces have in the course of their duties given humanitarian support and assistance to the people of Somalia in areas that they have liberated and even the injured members of the bandit group that is called Al Shabaab . Therefore, these members of the defence forces of Kenya have done us proud. We must, therefore, continue to support them. I have just said that they have conducted themselves in a professional manner. It is only yesterday that in a very professional manner, our defence forces disarmed some AlShabaab bandits who surrendered. In other countries, probably, that would not have been the case. But they conducted themselves in a very professional manner. This Motion before the House seeks to allow the House to give approval for the Kenya defence forces to be deployed in Somalia in accordance with the Constitution as peace keepers, but not fighters. Therefore, I think it is a very straightforward Motion and I believe the hon. Members of this House will do what is necessary and accord the defence forces of Kenya the approval that the Minister is seeking. This is not something new for our forces. Our defence forces are very experienced in matters of keeping peace. They have kept peace in Bosnia, Sierra Leone, DRC, Namibia and many countries. Wherever they have gone on this mission, we have received nothing, but praise for the work that they have been able to do. I want to add a point that even as we prepare to deploy or to seek permission for our defence forces to be deployed in Somalia as peace keeping forces, we must not lose sight of the fact that the Operation Linda Nchi is in progress. It is the desire of Kenyans that this operation must be continued and concluded, so that the boundaries of Kenya and Somalia remain safe. The sovereignty of this nation is clearly honoured by everyone, including Al Shabaab . It will be a grave mistake for the defence forces to leave the operation halfway and then expose our country into danger. Therefore, that matter is very clear in our minds that the border between Kenya and Somalia must be secured. The sovereignty of this nation must be clearly understood by everyone even before we move to the next phase of peace-keeping. Let me also say something about the Daadab Refugee Camp. The fact that there are hostile elements in Daadab Refugee Camp is not a secret. The Spanish doctors were taken out of this country from that refugee camp. We have had many explosions within the camp. So, it is clear that we have some elements within that refugee camp who are actually Al Shaabab or their sympathizers. Therefore, for the interest of this nation, I believe when some parts of Somalia are secured, we will have to remove and relocate those refugees within Somalia, to a place that is secure. I say this because only yesterday, we lost an Administration Police (AP) officer from within the camp. Therefore, that is not a camp that is solely for people who are seeking refuge. It must be viewed as a camp that also---"
}