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{
    "id": 513823,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/513823/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 169,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Okoth",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 12482,
        "legal_name": "Kenneth Odhiambo Okoth",
        "slug": "kenneth-odhiambo-okoth"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Speaker. I rise to support the appointment of Major General (Rtd.) Tumbo to serve in Somalia as the ambassador of Kenya. Somalia is a country of very serious strategic interests to Kenya. It is in our national interest when we think about our relationship with Somalia on matters of security and terrorism, smuggling, migration, spread of small arms, weapons and other things. It is also very important in terms of our economic relationship. Somalia represents a potential great market for exchange of labour, goods and services, including banking and the technology sector where Kenya is a leader. So, it has been mentioned and I repeat; that, even in the construction and reconstruction of that country as we have seen in South Sudan, Kenya stands to benefit a lot. It is in our interest and I am excited that Major General (Rtd.) Tumbo will be heading to do that important mission in Somalia. When I think about Somalia, Major General (Rtd.) Tumbo has his work cut out for him. There are a lot of things he should focus on quickly and start delivering results in light of those national interests I have talked about, including the cultural ties that we share very closely. We must remain in Somalia. Right now as Kenya, we have the KDF fighting there to help bring peace and stability that country. They are assisting the Government of Somalia. But I also think that Major General (Rtd) Tumbo should help to guide our thinking about the nature of our engagement in Somalia militarily. My suggestion would be that he must consider a strategy that, in conjunction with our military leaders, will change our footprint from the control of the ports to a much more targeted control of our borders. We need to control the crossing over of weapons, Al-Shabaab or any other forms of illegal trade."
}