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"id": 440443,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/440443/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Billow",
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"legal_name": "Billow Adan Kerrow",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise to support this Motion. I do not know why some of the distinguished Senators have a problem with the wording of this Motion. The Motion clearly calls for a stronger and a wider role of Kenya in the UN peacekeeping operations. That is the gist of the Motion. I agree with Sen. Khalwale that the UN Security Council’s mandate is very clear; this is maintenance of international peace and security. In that regard, the UN Security Council, through various resolutions establishes peacekeeping missions. That started in 1948 with the conflict between Israel and Palestine. To date, the UN has had up to 47 peacekeeping missions globally. We were told, recently, that they have up to 16 of them in operation and over 120 soldiers having served on those missions. Kenya, in the 1990s and 1980s was a very active member in terms of contributing to peacekeeping missions in many parts of the world including very remote places like East Timor and countries in North Africa like Sierra Leone and so forth. The benefits of peacekeeping missions in the UN are enormous and that is why a lot of countries have focused on these missions for their military. Countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh sent large numbers of people, every year, on peacekeeping globally. The single most importance of this is to professionalize their military. This is to help their military to acquire and apply new knowledge in the military because the soldiers get an opportunity to interact with advanced armies. In the peacekeeping missions in which the army operates, there are other armies. That international interface gives our army an opportunity to profesionalise; acquire new skills, knowledge and expertise in military matters. We also know that peacekeeping operations bolster or strengthen international reputation as a nation. It helps with favourable recognition globally and publicity. In terms of diplomacy and foreign relations, you get international recognition. That also had dividends in terms of international cooperation. This is a very beneficial thing to a country. Thirdly, there is economic growth. Your military gets paid. Financially, there is a benefit. The equipment that you use, which depreciates, is refunded and you get better equipment. So, there is also an economic advantage in that regard. For some of the peacekeeping operations, there is, in fact, an interest. For instance, if there was a problem in our backyard, like in South Sudan, Somalia or in countries around us, there would be a pay off. This would mean that we are participating in peacekeeping operations to ensure stability in the region and in neighbouring countries. You can, at times, participate in peacekeeping operations to ensure that trade continues. For example, if Uganda, which is our single largest trading partner, had a problem, we would have an advantage in participating in peacekeeping. Once we stabilize the country, we would benefit. The objective of peacekeeping is to reduce tension. The first objective is not enforcement. There are a lot of benefits in this but again, it is voluntary. However, look at it, countries that have participated strongly in peacekeeping missions get an opportunity to sit at the UN Security Council in addition to the international recognitions. Look at the benefit of motivation for young armed forces men who would otherwise be idle, they get motivational benefits in terms of their participation which helps them financially. The other thing I want to mention is that peacekeeping operations require impartiality; the way you deal with the two parties that are involved in the conflict. That training is very"
}