HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 451952,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/451952/?format=api",
"text_counter": 355,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Gethenji",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 2874,
"legal_name": "James Ndungu Gethenji",
"slug": "james-ndungu-gethenji"
},
"content": "Kenyan soil in the recent past, including in Wajir, Mandera, Eastleigh and most recently, Likoni. In our inquiry, we endeavored to examine all the openings which terrorists exploit, penetrate our systems and harm our nationals. We endeavored to find where there was weakness and show it. We endeavored to observe Chapter 14 of our Constitution which refers to national security. As a Committee, we were tasked with a heavy responsibility, indeed. We may want to go down to the nitty gritty of the events, it is important for us to take a global view of what happened not only in Westgate, but also of what is generally happening with terrorism that is beginning to affect our nation. The intention of the attack needed to be interrogated. What was it? Why did these people come here to do this to us? Was it to break our spirit as a Kenyan people? If so, then I say that they failed. If their intention was to come here and cripple our security and intelligence machinery, that too failed. We killed them. If their idea was to traumatize the Kenyan public, the mall goers and the people who patronize the commercial centres that we have in this country, that too was a failure because Kenyans still patronize our commercial establishments. Investors are still building new malls all over the country, including here in Nairobi. If that was part of their agenda, that too failed. If the idea was to glorify the Mujahideen, the so called soldiers of God, then that failed miserably. No soldier of God will put a gun on an innocent woman or a pregnant mother, grandparents and so on. If that was their objective, it completely failed. We must, therefore, interrogate this question further: What was the objective? What is the objective of the campaign of terror in this country? From analysis of what has happened historically, it is apparent that there is an attempt to destroy Kenya’s prospects socially and economically in this region. This country is on the verge of an economic and social transformation. We are on the runaway to Vision 2030, and also to becoming a middle income economy. We are one among the few in Africa. If you look at the corporate landscape, all the multinationals in this continent either have a presence or a headquarters in Kenya. We know that Kenya is the only domicile of the United Nations agency in the developing world. Kenya is the gateway to the African hinterland. The LAPSSET Project, which is going to be the largest infrastructure project in the continent, is set to take off and this will open up this continent like no other project has ever done, and will allow development of infrastructure. Hon. Deputy Speaker, this was a social and economic attack on the people and the Republic of Kenya. There are those who ask, “Why did this happen?” They will find the answer in Operation Linda Nchi, which reclaimed Kenya’s territorial space and waters from the bandit group, Al Shabaab. Operation Linda Nchi and Kenya’s decision to move into Somalia and attack Al Shabaab ended the bandit economy, which was choking Kenya’s legitimate economy. This position of Al Shabaab in Somalia was allowing the transportation of contraband goods from Kismayu to Kenya; this ran into billions of shillings. The piracy and ransom racket which had grown tentacles into the professional and service sectors in Kenya was distorting our micro-economic framework, and also the way business is done in this country. It artificially inflated the value of real estate in Kenya. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}