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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. The Moyale-Marsabit Highway, which is the only access road that we have to the bigger market in Ethiopia, of about 90 million people, is now not passable. For the last one or two months, loaded trucks have been stuck at Turbi, which is 130 kilometres from the border. They cannot move from Turbi to Moyale because the road has been barricaded by members of the public. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, last weekend we, as leaders, complained and the police asked the trucks to follow them. Three trucks followed them. When they reached Sololo area, they were stopped by members of the public who then looted and burnt them. These trucks had about ten police officers on each of them. We even have a case where the local leaders were there. There are pictures circulating in the area showing these trucks being burnt. The policemen did not do anything. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, also on that road we have two contractors on site. The Marsabit-Turbi road is under construction. The Turbi-Moyale road is also under construction. There are two Chinese contractors on these roads. Our idea was that by 2016 the road from Isiolo to Moyale will be tarmacked. Now we are seeing a situation where because of insecurity, those contractors will abandon the works. Each of the contract is over Kshs10 billion. Therefore, we are going to lose a Government investment, since the situation is getting out of hand. There was a Land Cruiser pick-up which was being used by one of the contractors, which was also burnt. Now this poses a threat to security for the contractors in this construction project and that investment is under threat. Mr. Deputy Speaker, in Marsabit Central, where the county headquarters are, the issue is mainly between the Boranas on one side and the Gabbra and Burji on the other side. But now it has reached Marsabit Town where people are being asked not to buy goods and services from others. A Borana cannot go to a Gabbra or Burji shop to buy. There was even a case where somebody went and bought from a Burji shop and his ears were cut off. He was told that since he did not listen to them, they were going to chop off his ears. It has reached that level. The problem is that the Government is there and when you ask them they tell you: “Yes, we know and have heard that.” I do not know what will happen. How many people will be killed so that security can come in? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, right now, in downtown Nairobi, if people riot, of course, without even knowing why they are rioting, the police will be there to stop them and protect other people’s lives and property. But in Marsabit, we are left on our own and the situation is getting out of hand. What is causing all this? We know very well that there was violence in Moyale between 2011 and 2012. However, this one, particularly seems to be connected to the recent elections. In Kenya, we are allowed to form coalitions and that is why we have Jubilee and CORD. The people of Marsabit also voted the same way. We have communities like the Rendile, Gabbra, Burji and all those who came together and felt that maybe they could win together. We also have the Boranas on the side. But after the election, there was a feeling that maybe those who had won will not be accepted to govern. There was a memorandum which was circulated. I would like to comment here that I even saw a copy of it with the Committee on Devolved Governments; saying that we do not accept Ukur Yatani as Governor. That is what some people have said from the beginning. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as the Senator, I took a lot of time trying to discuss with people across the board, telling them that as a county government, we will make sure that there is 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"
}