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{
    "id": 427561,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/427561/?format=api",
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    "content": "Two, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to applaud the Constitution. If you look at the section which the Senate Majority Leader quoted, the people of the National Security Council (NSC) are heavyweights – from the President, Deputy President, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Attorney-General, the Director of Intelligence and so on. These are heavyweights, and it would have been very easy for them to have decided. But the new Constitution has said that even with these heavyweights being on the NSC, when it comes to the issue of deploying troops, Parliament must be involved. If you read Article 1of our Constitution, we know that the sovereignty of this country lies in the people of Kenya. Article 2 says:- “The people may exercise their sovereign power either directly or through their democratically elected representatives.” Therefore, as you sit here to give approval to this very important Motion, we are giving that approval on behalf of the people of Kenya. Giving it on behalf of Kenya is also, to me, recognition that South Sudan is a good neighbour. If you have a good neighbour, their house cannot be burning as you just stare. I believe that is why President Moi, President Kibaki up to now with President Uhuru Kenyatta, have all very closely been involved in issues relating to Sudan. Even the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs was responsible for sending the original contingent of 690 people there. Mr. Speaker, Sir, an issue has been raised here; this issue is what the Senate Majority Leader stated; that many countries wanted to send troops to South Sudan, but the United Nations (UN) said “no, the priority must be given to Kenyans.” Let me tell you that this is not an accident. We know the history of our armed forces in peace keeping operations within the UN; they have a very good name there, and that cannot be stated for the forces that come from other countries. We know, for example, what the forces that went to Congo did there – we know they looted property, raped the women of Congo and they did everything wrong. In fact, the UN Security Council had to mount an investigation into the atrocities carried out by the peace keeping operations in Congo. That is why, because of what went on there and in other places, the UN is now very careful on the type of people that can give assistance to peace keeping operations – people who are respected, who have a good reputation, and so on. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I know the Senate Majority Leader said that he was a professor of law; and I want to commend him for really being the professor of law today when he was moving this Motion. 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."
}