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{
    "id": 306336,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/306336/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 102,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Onyonka",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 128,
        "legal_name": "Richard Momoima Onyonka",
        "slug": "richard-onyonka"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, hon. Kombo had wanted to know why the Israeli Embassy had inconvenienced motorists by stopping them outside the Embassy precincts and the legality of that action. He also asked what action the Kenyan Government was taking on the matter. The barriers along the road outside the Israeli Embassy were put in place after the terrorist attacks at Kikambala Hotel in Mombasa. There was also a second attack on the Israeli Airliner in Mombasa. At the same, owing to this and the current global terrorist threats as well as past attacks on Israeli interests in several countries such as Kenya and our neighbours, it was agreed by the Government that we would adopt those barriers in order for us to provide enough security to the personnel working within the Israeli Embassy and its diplomatic missions. Therefore, those barriers are meant to pre-empt any attacks as one of the most common methods used by the terrorists. Terrorists usually use vehicles to blow up buildings and most of these vehicles will be filled with explosives. The deployment of police officers along Bishop Road is, therefore, not meant to inconvenience or harass Kenyans who are using that road. It is only done because the Israeli Embassy is located on the same road and the Kenyan Government felt that it was important for us to provide that security. Apart from this, Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 states that:- “The receiving or host State is under a special duty to take all the appropriate steps to protect the premises of a mission against any intrusion of damage to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity”. The police will continue to monitor and review the levels of the threat from the terrorists with a view of reducing the number of road barriers in the City in order for the Government to allow free flow of security where it is necessary. It is in the interest of all Kenyans and the City residents to co-operate in effecting such security measures where it is appropriate or necessary. Finally, it is noteworthy for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to state that we do not, at any one time, unilaterally issue sanctions or any security decisions touching on the security of any embassy. The requests, sometimes, are made by the missions accredited to Kenya and it is our responsibility to oblige where it is necessary."
}