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"content": "targeting innocent citizens in places of entertainment, bus stops and places of worship is a vivid reminder that terrorists are here with us and we can no longer wish the threat posed by terrorism away. Indeed, if some of the planned attacks, including last week’s one which saw the recovery of deadly explosives and other arsenals, had not been intercepted by our security forces, we would, probably, be talking a different story. We have evidence that, that terrorist group was targeting Parliament and hon. Members. It is only by good luck that their car broke down on their way to this august House. So, we cannot wish terrorism away. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Kenya has been a victim of major terrorist attacks on four occasions. The first attack was in 1980 when the Norfolk Hotel was bombed on the eve of the New Year. That attack left 16 people dead and several others injured. The second major attack was in August, 1998, when the US Embassy was bombed and over 250 people killed and thousands injured. The third major attack was in 2002 when Paradise Hotel in Kikambala was bombed and the attempted downing of an Israeli airline which was leaving Moi International Airport. The fourth major terrorist attack occurred in June, this year, when gunmen opened fire on worshippers in churches in Garissa, killing 18 innocent worshippers. Apart from the foresaid attacks, we have had several attacks of a smaller magnitude such as the Ambassador Hotel attack, the Uhuru Park attack and the Kampala-bound bus attack. In all these attacks, the people who suffered are Kenyans Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Government has come under close scrutiny over the ease with which suspected terrorists are able to come into this country and the failure to criminalize terrorism and terrorism financing. Due to lack of legislation to criminalize terrorism and terrorist financing, the country faces imminent threat of being blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force, by the international community. I must speak to the hon. Members of this august House because we have been given up to the end of this month to enact the relevant legislation or face counter measures. By “counter measures”, they mean that we will be blacklisted. If Kenya is blacklisted, we will not be able to receive any coin or even a single cent from outside the country. We will not be able to send a single cent outside the country. So, you can see the seriousness under which we must pass this Bill, so that we are not blacklisted. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if we are blacklisted, it will place the country in the same category as Iran and North Korea which will have an adverse effect on the country’s economy, especially the financial sector. If that were to happen, the country’s reputation in the international community will be tarnished as it will be viewed as a money laundering haven or transactions emanating from the country will be treated with suspicion and subjected to extra vigilance. Even payments such as school fees for students studying abroad will not be spared. Even payments for medical services abroad will not be spared. Correspondent banking relations and growth of Kenyan banks in other regions will also be severely curtailed. On foreign investments, the country will be eroded, thus hampering the Government’s plan to attain Vision 2030 objectives. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, while the law enforcement agencies have and continue to put in place concerted efforts to combat the vice, the existing laws are inadequate to assist in preferring appropriate charges and meting out deterrent penalties against the"
}