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{
    "id": 384366,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/384366/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 31,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Haji",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 26,
        "legal_name": "Yusuf Mohammed Haji",
        "slug": "yusuf-haji"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Mr. Speaker, Sir, question number one was whether the visit to African countries was a State visit or a private function. The visit by His Excellency the Deputy President to the four African countries was a State function. In accordance with Article 147(1) and (2) of the Constitution, His Excellency the President instructed him to undertake travel from the 16th to the 19th of May, 2013, to meet the Heads of States of the four African nations, namely; Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Nigeria, Ghana and Algeria. However, the Algerian President was undergoing treatment and, hence there was no visit. The list of the delegation comprised 14 persons, which included the Deputy President and his Chief of Staff, four Members of Parliament nominated by the Majority Leaders of both the Senate and the National Assembly; a protocol officer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, three security officers, a personal assistant to the Deputy President, two communication officers and an accountant from the Office of the Deputy President. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the purposes of the visit by the Deputy President to the four African countries are as follows:- (1) To address the enormous security challenges Somalia has posed to Kenya. It was necessary for Kenya to solicit support and influence the African Union (AU) position in so far as the management of Somalia is concerned; specially, the mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to be enhanced and more resources made available to assist the Somali Government to set up local administrative and governance structures under the IGAD framework in Southern Somalia. (2) There are currently more than 500,000 refugees who have been resident in Kenya for more than a decade. Kenya pursued the matter at the AU Summit which was held between 23rd and 27th May, 2013. (3) To establish a deployment force to firmly deal with Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab and other terrorist activities. (4) Enhance the capacity of the African Union Mission in Somalia AMISOM on the local units to stop the inflow of contraband goods mainly sugar and electronics coming to the Port of Kismayu and causing security instability in northern Kenya; namely, in Garissa, Wajir and Mandera. (5) Effective security checks and enhancement of the capacity of AMISOM to stem the entry of Al-Qaeda elements from crossing into Kenya and affecting the economic growth of the country as well as the implementation of the Jubilee Manifesto. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}