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{
    "id": 396715,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/396715/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 163,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, if we analyze the problems that affect man now in Kenya, it is because somebody has not taken responsibility right from where they stay. For example, we had a problem where I am told that criminals infiltrated our country. They moved from Somalia with crude weapons without being noticed. I am raising this issue because if we had these village elders along our border with Somalia and Ethiopia which I am told stretches about 300 kilometres all the way from the Indian Ocean, they would have noticed those criminals coming to our country. If the communities that live around the border have elders who have been identified and trained, then crime along our border points and inside our towns would be minimal. These people were originally taking care of the communities. I urge the Government now to tap into this by upgrading them and making sure that they are committed to serve our country. These elders can pass very useful information to police officers. For example, when they see a stranger in the village, they can know what action to take or what kind of information to pass to security agents. Mr. Temporary Speaker, if we do this, chances are that we will be able to stem and close in on these problems that we now bear the brunt of, right here in the city. We need to empower these elders. We can also use these elders to pass correct attributes in our counties. For example, we are now saying that every child that has been born in Kenya must go to school. Who can enforce these laws? When the chief arrives in his uniform, the people might not listen to him, but they will listen to elders. A number of us went to school because of the authority of elders. This is because when they heard and understood the message, they passed it on. The people in these areas - particularly those areas where cattle rustling takes place and elders have been spoken to and have understood that this is an evil activity - when they stand to speak, that behaviour will definitely be wiped out. This is because the youth listen to and respect their elders. When the elder has spoken in some African context, as we know, we do not go against their word. So, why are we running to some alien and foreign strategies in trying to put order and sense into the way we live, as Africans, in Kenya instead of tapping into what we know best? Elders have also been found to be useful when an idea has come, like when we want to open up certain regions for planting of crops instead of rearing of animals. In this scenario, the best people to convince others are the elders because when they speak, that issue is understood. I am told the Government has identified this year, in the Jubilee Manifesto, that one million acres of land would be put to irrigation. Where are you going to get this land? This land is found in the villages. Until elders buy that idea; until they are trained and they have understood what it is, that idea might not move very far. You may use political force or you may use the elites who are few in some areas. You can already see that for agricultural areas, elders can assist so seriously. In the densely populated areas like Nairobi, we have estates which are difficult for people to access because there are no roads, and where thugs operate from and hide. People have even built on the road reserves making it hard for you to access some estates. Who can tell us how these areas can be turned into peaceful areas other than village elders or estate elders - whatever name we can call them? In the arid and semi arid areas (ASALs), the elders play a very crucial role because they advise generations on the seasons and times 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."
}