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"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would also like to join my colleagues in supporting this Motion. I would say straightaway that our National Defence Forces are already doing a very good job in Somalia. We are now asking our security forces to join the AMISOM, so that they can become a peace-keeping force in Somalia. As hon. C. Kilonzo said, this is something which we should have done more than 10 years ago. Somalia is a natural neighbour to Kenya. Any problem in Somalia affects Kenya. We cannot take lightly the support or the contribution that Somalia has made to the Kenyan economy. Most of the economy in Eastleigh comes from Somalia, and, as a country, we cannot ignore that fact. Therefore, the Minister’s request to this House is very noble and we should wholeheartedly support the Motion. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if piracy in the Indian Ocean continues, shipping will be affected badly. Even our Port of Mombasa and the proposed Port of Lamu will be nothing. As we talk now, the cost of shipping is already too high because of the insecurity in Somalia. The only way we can contribute in a snall way is to send our soldiers, who are very capable and disciplined, to join the other African men and women who are keeping peace in Somalia. At the moment, we are busy talking about just our military forces going to Somalia but military forces without equipment are not forces at all. At the moment, our military forces need a lot more equipment than what they have. Our navy, for example, is not as well equipped as they should be to be able to discharge the responsibility of monitoring law and order in the Indian Ocean or in the coastal waters near our country. It would, therefore, be prudent for this House to look into the future, especially when our Minister in charge of defence brings his Budget to this House. It is up to this House to ensure that our military have the resources they need to build up the equipment that will enable them to defend this country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when you move forces into a foreign country, as we will be moving our forces into Somalia, you need to transport them. The Minister will agree with me that at the moment we do not have sufficient transport aeroplanes to even take our forces to the war front. Why am I saying this? It is costly to do these things, but in normal circumstances, if, for example, the United Nations will be involved in this mission, they will reimburse the country for the expenditures we will incur on movement of military personnel. Therefore, even as we build up our equipment, it is also an investment worth supporting. For now, I would like to join my other colleagues in supporting this Motion wholeheartedly to enable our security forces to go into Somalia. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir."
}