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"id": 476253,
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"speaker_name": "Sen. Ongoro",
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"legal_name": "Elizabeth Ongoro Masha",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I also rise to record my sentiments on the speech given by the Senate President of Rwanda yesterday. I want to start by saying that when I came to the House yesterday, I came prepared to sit for a long time listening to a lengthy speech. But I was impressed by the short, precise, up to the point speech that was delivered by the President of the Senate. The simplicity of his entourage was even more impressive. Looking at the address, I want to agree that what was recorded in the speech was actually, to a very big extent, the truth and the reality on the ground. This is because some countries refer to themselves as friendly to Kenya, but their actions and deeds are contrary. Rwanda, on the other hand, is indeed, a friendly country because they exhibit this spirit of friendship by the things that they have put in place. For example, it has been mentioned here before that we do not have any visa requirements for Kenyans going to Rwanda. Similarly, for our business people, they have created a one stop shop and a one day registration and facilitation. Therefore, this is very encouraging because when they call themselves friendly to us, it is really what they are exhibiting. I also want to state that Rwanda supports the integration of the East African Community by deed because, indeed, Rwanda is also a signatory to the Peace and Security Pact that was signed by the East African countries this year. This is going to give us a joint platform in fighting terrorism, cross border crime and all other ills that could be unique to this region. The experience of genocide has been so extensively referred to in this speech. While I want to state that it could not be very close to our own, but it is an example that, probably God has given us close to allow us at each point in our politics when we fight for regional and balancing in all aspects of our Government. This is because we have these examples of Rwanda, Somalia and all these other ones close by. So, when we study the issues that led to genocide in Rwanda, I visited Rwanda and had occasion to be taken to the sites. I had an entire day interrogating those who were taking me round because I really wanted to understand why they ended up like that, when they really are a one people to a very big extent. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there were issues of perceived historical injustices by one section of the community in the country which were silent and which were not allowed to come to the fore. These issues were not interrogated, addressed, or discussed. That is why I think, we, as a country and as a nation, when we want to ventilate either in the Houses or outside, we should learn not only to talk, but also to listen. It would be better not to be reactionary, but to be a people who would listen and address some of these issues without trying to wish them away. When you travel overseas, you get a very big number of Rwandese still staying in countries like Belgium. While I commend them for the resilience and speed with which they have healed as a nation, they should similarly extend this very good gesture and try to invite their brothers and sisters who they left during the genocide and after, and who are still living out there, to come back to the country. On that same note, I would still add my voice for them to find ways of not branding the same people of Rwanda as people 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."
}