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"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the address also touched on the infrastructural projects that are taking place across the region, for example, the initiative to build a railway from Mombasa to Kigali and Bujumbura. This will open a great deal of the hinterland of our region. It would be easier to do business in the region. At this juncture, I really want to comment Rwanda, even if we are saying that the two countries have been at the forefront of steering the East African Community integration process. In fact, Rwanda is even ahead of Kenya. For instance, this is something I have witnessed myself when I visited that country a few months ago. It takes a day to register a business in Rwanda. So, they are ahead of us. There are Kenyans who told me that when they went there by evening their businesses were registered. The following day, they had set up shops. So, we really need to relook at our own immigration laws. I know we are having problems with insecurity, but I do not think we will tackle insecurity just by putting steel doors and gates around our country. I do not think we can tackle insecurity by putting gates around our country. I think the cure for insecurity lies in proper intelligence, just knowing where the threats come through and being able to tackle those threats. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Kenyans will not need a visa to go to Kigali; and neither will Rwandese citizens; they do not need visas to come to Kenya. We are encouraging other East African partners, especially our good sister country, Tanzania, to also open up and realize that the so-called threats from neighbouring countries only exist in theory and not in practical terms. I know countries which have had such open relationships with Kenya for many years and that has not really interfered with their economy. Zambia is one of those countries. I also know of a country like Ethiopia which, since 1963, there is no requirement for visa and that does not mean you will find many Kenyans even taking over the domestic industry in Ethiopia simply because there is no visa requirement. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Address also, other than raising those issues, brought to the fore the issue of Al Shabaab . Rwanda has been with Kenya on this one. I remember when we were attacked at Westgate, one of the first people to call our President and to condole with Kenyans was the President of Rwanda. I remember when I went to Rwanda, I had an opportunity to meet the President of Rwanda. I think that country believes that their future is intertwined with the future of Kenya for many reasons. We share a common history, we share common ideals. We have the same vision about where we need to go in terms of infrastructure. Therefore, I think on this issue of Al Shabaab and terrorism, I think the intelligence issues, the lapses and the action programmes can actually be sorted out by comparing notes with countries like Rwanda and Ethiopia even before we run very far away to look for help. I am not saying that we should not look for help far away, but we can come up with homegrown solutions within the region. I really do not want to politicize this issue, but I should be understood in that context because I know that there are some people who are saying we are being attacked because our troops are in Somalia and that the moment we withdraw our forces from Somalia, Kenya shall be free from AlShabaab attacks. That is not true. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Rwanda has been very visible in these things of peace keeping in the region. It has even sent forces to neighbouring countries. It has even been more robust in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other places. A country 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."
}