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{
    "id": 440406,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/440406/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 63,
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    "content": "creation and if we open up and agree that this is a framework that we can lobby and the Government can use to strengthen relations between the UN and Kenya, then the morale of the young people in the forces would be boosted and they would be patriotic in doing whatever they do. The only way is to give them that opportunity to get out of the country and also look at how life is out there. Mr. Speaker, Sir, when you try to engage with the UN, most of the time you are told that it is a Government position or procedure. If that is the procedure, then it is for us to urge the Kenyan Government to ensure that whatever promises that we give to our people, even if it is within the UN, we should have a clear framework. We now have an ambassador at the UN who is doing very well, leading some of the key committees within the UN, but after that, where do we place Kenya? The Government should also look at the system of the UN knowing very well that in whatever we have gone through, even when we went to The Hague, it was within the UN regulations. So, how do you strengthen yourself to also play the politics that are within the UN? This is very critical. For me, when we talk about peacekeeping missions, we just look at peacekeeping because that is where we have involved ourselves. But to look at it broader is to say, now that we are participating in different committees within the UN, how does the country come in? That is how you even strengthen yourselves within those peacekeeping missions. I was with you, Chair, when we met the Director of Peacekeeping Missions at the UN. Some of the questions we asked, you could see that he would wish to answer us but he was unable because even our engagement in terms of Kenya as a country is a bit dicey. So, we realized that there is one thing that we do not have; a better framework on how to engage and even get reports. As much as it is a UN and Government relationship, I think it is important also for the Government, now with the new constitutional dispensation, to give some of these reports so that we understand. If there is any challenge, we are able to work together and manage the challenge. Every time delegations go to the UN and we ask ourselves how to implement what we went to do there after spending taxpayers’ money. For those of us who went for this trip, we would like to urge the Government to create a clear framework that even Kenyans can understand how the UN works within the military system and within the operations that they do in peacekeeping missions. If we want our young men and women to join, this is how we can join. Mr. Speaker, Sir, many times – this happens in all institutions – young people would like to join but also we have those who have been in the military who would wish to join. You find that even within our missions, we have somebody who comes from the military who sits on the desk to deal with those issues. They have a full committee that is dealing with many issues of peacekeeping. So, we would wish to get reports of the UN where our people sit so that we can know where they are finding challenges and where they need assistance. They could also identify opportunities for the country so that we can move beyond where we are. I would like to urge fellow Senators to support this Motion because it will help us to open up opportunities in the counties. This will also help us to encourage the Kenya Defence College to advise the Cabinet Secretary for Defence to adopt a broader framework that will put things to account. I know sometimes, it becomes difficult when you are asked to be accountable. We are not asking about the equipment or the money. We want accountability in terms of the numbers; how many Kenyans are benefitting from the different peacekeeping operations that we have. I bet to move and ask Sen. (Prof.) Lonyangapuo to second."
}