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{
    "id": 475377,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/475377/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 236,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Obure",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 118,
        "legal_name": "Christopher Mogere Obure",
        "slug": "christopher-obure"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, Madam Temporary Speaker. The President of the Senate of Rwanda’s visit was testimony and, indeed, an expression of the strong relations and friendship between Rwanda and Kenya. I have no doubt that his visit will go a long way in solidifying the relationship between the Senates of these two countries. Madam Temporary Speaker, after the 1994 genocide, Rwanda came to its knees. Rwanda, as a country, was actually reduced to ashes. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the people of Rwanda for the valiant efforts they have made to rescue their country from ashes to the greatness which it has now achieved; the various bold initiatives taken by the leadership to build their country, to reconcile the citizens of that country from that nasty experience must applauded by all people of goodwill. We need, in many ways, to emulate the example of Rwanda in order to achieve some of the successes that they have achieved. Madam Temporary Speaker, Rwanda is one of our most important trading partners. I know we often appreciate our relations with other countries – our other trading partners – but many times we do not appreciate Rwanda as one of our major trading partners. Rwanda is, in fact, one of the biggest users of the Port of Mombasa, because this port is the gateway to Rwanda. Therefore, in many ways, Rwanda contributes directly to the economy of Kenya and to the welfare of Kenyans by way of enabling Kenya to earn the much needed foreign exchange through trade, through the use of the Port of Mombasa and through various other ways. Therefore, we really want to appreciate Rwanda as our trading partner and as a country which directly contributes to the welfare of our people in a very positive way. Madam Temporary Speaker, the President talked about enhancing regional infrastructure and the need to build better roads to improve mobility between our two countries; the need to build a railway system that connects Kenya and Rwanda; the need to improve communications and energy provision. I agree with him entirely that there is need to do that. This will not only improve security and enable us to deal with all the various security threats like terrorism and all that, but most importantly, it will help us to enhance trade and to improve the economies of our two countries. This is significant, in my opinion, and I agree entirely with the sentiments expressed by the President. There were times when it was very difficult to trade with Rwanda and many of our neighbours. During those days, if you wanted to contact somebody in Kigali, you had to go through Brussels in Belgium. You had to go through Europe to connect to Rwanda. If you wanted to travel by air to Rwanda despite the fact that it is only less than one hour flight from here, you had to go to Europe and then connect to Rwanda. Those days, it was very difficult to trade with Rwanda. We appreciate the improvements that have taken The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}