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{
    "id": 427625,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/427625/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 338,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. G.G. Kariuki",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 330,
        "legal_name": "Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki",
        "slug": "gg-kariuki"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I understand my time is very short. First of all, we need to thank ourselves and also the President for being loyal to the Constitution of Kenya. Unless we behave this way, it will take us time to achieve what we call constitutionalism. Constitutionalism can only be attained when we all adhere, respect and be faithful to the Constitution. Therefore, I would like to thank the President for his action. This is a reminder that he is still loyal and ready to defend the Constitution. This is not a new phenomenon because since 1973, Kenya has been deploying armed forces to foreign peace keeping missions. In 1979, we were most active in peace keeping operations in the world. Now this time, this peace operation which was popularly referred to as the Blue Berets, Kenya participated very much in supporting this peace keeping force. By 1979, Kenya was serving in nine countries. This was on operational basis. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Kenyan officers have been used to observe security in many other countries, which amount to about 25, including the United Nations (UN) Headquarters. What is the benefit? Previous speakers have not raised this issue or mentioned the benefits. It is not just about sending our troops outside Kenya; they should also consider the kind of benefits that accrue to this country when we send our armed forces there. One, our army increases their technical knowledge about maintenance of security and they have the opportunity of training with new equipment. I think it is also important that even if there was no request, we should have requested, because our armed forces or the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will benefit a lot from these international engagements. Some of the training and experience from such areas like promoting human security and strengthening the rule of law can go a long way in boosting our ability to protect even our own country. So, the most important thing here or the most operative words here are what is Kenya going to benefit out of all these issues? It not just about applauding them for being deployed in those countries; but we also have to understand that there is a huge benefit that will come along with our armed forces when they go to those countries; when they are deployed outside Kenya. We should not consider our security here when we are talking about deploying our armed forces there, because this is our country and we have enough armed forces here; you can even take 10,000 of them and there will still be those who are left behind who are professional enough and they believe in their work. No problem shall affect this country in terms of security. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to also thank the Mover of this Motion because---"
}