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{
    "id": 476275,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/476275/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 335,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Orengo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 129,
        "legal_name": "Aggrey James Orengo",
        "slug": "james-orengo"
    },
    "content": "I thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity. First, is to recognize that despite whatever criticism will be directed against Rwanda, they have done a lot to bring that country to a situation of stability where institutions are working. In saying this, I also want to remember that when the first military coup was conducted in Rwanda and the King was overthrown, he together with his family and associates lived in Kenya for a very long time. Kenya became a safe haven for the Rwandese for quite a number of years. I also want to remember that the Government of Rwanda, at the time when the President was Bizimungu and Kagame was his deputy, that Government was the first Government after the system of multiparty democracy was established in Kenya that recognized the Kenyan Opposition. I remember going there in a delegation of Members of the Opposition at that time; it was a very strong delegation of 10 people, Members of Parliament (MPs) which included former President Kibaki, the late hon. Wamalwa Kijana and the late Martin Shikuku. We worked together with the Rwandese Government using the Parliament here to make sure that those who had committed acts of genocide in Rwanda and were living in Kenya were exposed. Using the materials we were given by the Rwandese Government as MPs, we tabled that information in the House and also worked together with the Special Tribunal for Rwanda in trying to seek out the genocide perpetrators who had come to Kenya as fugitives of justice. One must congratulate Rwanda because it is becoming a small but very powerful country. It is very much in the form and shape of other small but powerful countries found in the Asian Continent, Korea and Singapore. Japan in terms of population and resources is not also a big country. In Europe, you will find countries like Switzerland and Austria which are small but powerful in many ways as a country. That is basically because they have taken up some values of hard work and the rule of law. They have not always followed democracy but those who eventually succeed are very strong on democratic values and human rights. Integration in East Africa is the integration of the states. The people of EAC are more or less integrated and it is a question of old colonial boundaries that still exist that have hampered the movement of people’s goods and services across the borders. If as a transition measure we can use borders not as barriers but as bridges to open up, the EAC integration at the level of states may be accelerated. It should not be lost that the people of East Africa are already integrated. If you look at the border between Kenya and Uganda, you will see that 40 per cent of Luhyas as we know them; as a people, are living in Uganda. If you look at the Maasais, you will see that more than half of them are living in Tanzania. More than half of the Kurias live in Tanzania. The Somalis have crossed 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."
}