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{
    "id": 395014,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/395014/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 155,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Elachi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13115,
        "legal_name": "Beatrice Elachi",
        "slug": "beatrice-elachi"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, I also stand to support the Motion and I also want to bring in a perspective that it is not only in North Eastern region but also in Mombasa, Lamu and other counties in the coast region. These regions face the same challenges in terms of parental identification and citizenship. Therefore, it is indeed our responsibility as the Senate to look at the whole issue in broad perspective without narrowing it to North Eastern region. This will also help Kenyans to understand the issue better. We need to accept that we have faced many challenges while dealing with the issuance of identity cards. This is an issue that the last three governments have not tackled well. The challenge started with Moi’s Government although Kibaki’s Government was able to deal with it. I know that with the Jubilee Government, due to what has happened, they would wish to deal with the issue. We need to understand our people, take care of them and protect them in terms of security. We should accept that as we move on as Kenyans, there is one challenge we face; we like to take advantage of challenges we face and make them an opportunity for abuse. Therefore, you will find that those who are really genuine Kenyans and would want to get their identity cards cannot get them just because of that. This is the most serious challenge we face today. How we handle and manage our brothers in North Eastern is a big challenge. Sometimes, we blame the Government but we can also blame ourselves. If you are neighbours then you should know each other. Even if your neighbour will move away for ten years, someone will remember that family and if they come back, they will be welcomed back home. There is a proposal by the Minister for Interior and Coordination of National Government where we will have ten people within the community to identify neighbours. So, how do you ensure that somebody who got lost for twenty years is identified as a Kenyan and helped to come out of the camps? These people are there because we have worked in Dadaab and we have seen them. As the Senator for Wajir has said, some went there because of food but if you look at also those who have received identity cards, you will be shocked to find that many Somalis used dubious means and sometimes would pay some money at the Immigration offices to get identity cards. This is something that we have to accept and work on it. 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."
}