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{
    "id": 462412,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/462412/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 228,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Gethenji",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2874,
        "legal_name": "James Ndungu Gethenji",
        "slug": "james-ndungu-gethenji"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Speaker. I wish to, once again, address the points made by hon. Mbadi, which are very valid. In fact, he read them out in the same sequence I had prepared to raise them. In addition to Standing Order 216(5)(a), we have Standing Order 216(5 (e). Standing Order 216(5) states as follows:- “216(5) the functions of a Departmental Committee shall be to- (e) investigate and inquire into all matters relating to the assigned Ministries and departments as they may deem necessary, and as may be referred to them by the House” Hon. Speaker, I would want hon. Members to address their minds to the matter of oversight. “Oversight” does not necessarily mean post-mortem or after the event has happened. “Oversight” can be simultaneous and in tandem. Indeed, the Joint Committee of the Committee on Administration and National Security and the Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations, which I chair; is presently engaged and seized of the matter of the oversight of the investigation into the Westgate Shopping Mall terrorist attack. It would be dishonest of us not to wish to interrogate the events surrounding that attack when the media has a free-hand to publicise all manner of fabricated stories, including the illegal airing of forensic evidence, which is the CCTV footage that was obtained directly from the security forces. God knows how that was done! Over and above, that forensic evidence has been aired on national, international and the social media. We want to gag ourselves in terms of addressing the matter of Westgate as the media makes all forms of accusations, including making reports that are completely devoid of facts. We know that on Mashujaa Day, the fourth body of the terrorists was recovered from the rubble at Westgate yet the media has been peddling the story that all the terrorists escaped. We are seized of the matter within the Committee. We are investigating. We are ensuring that our oversight function is fulfilled. However, at the same time, we must be cognizant of what is happening in the media. The campaign being carried out by the media is not only glorifying the Al Shabaab but it is also traumatising our children, who watch images of Kenyans being shot over and over again as those images are replayed over and over again during 7.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. news bulletins in our living rooms in every corner of this Republic. This only furthers the objective of 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."
}