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{
    "id": 532834,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/532834/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 74,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "March 31, 2015 SENATE DEBATES 15 Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I appreciate what the President said about past historical injustices; about human rights violations and to recognize those – like Sen. Orengo and many others in this House like Sen. Murungi – we used to study in school about them being human rights defenders, among others. We thank the President for recognizing those who suffered. He went ahead to say that he was setting aside about Kshs10 billion this financial year to look after those who have also suffered as a result of the post election violence and other past historical injustices. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I told my people this weekend that I hope that those who suffered under the watch of the Government during the many fights when the multi party system came in – those children who were killed because of banditry – which the Government actually oversaw and allowed to happen in Marakwet – including the children who were killed in Tot Health Centre. These children were waiting for immunization when they were killed by very terrible characters who, supposedly at that time, were cattle rustlers from the Pokot County. I hope these people will be part of the beneficiaries of that reparation that the President announced. That is why I agree with the Senate Minority Leader who said that there must be a clear mechanism for compensating people across the country for human rights violations and that it should not just be one area of the country or one region and so on, and so forth benefitting. We, as Senators, must be careful to ensure that, that kitty is spread out and everybody benefits across this country because of the violations that were experienced. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also stand here to recognize the fact that the President noted so many other achievements by the Government in matters of the SGR project, matters of irrigation and matters of ensuring that our country can move forward as a united nation. As the Senate, one of the things that the President spoke well about is the fact that we are still a united nation; we are one country and one people. One of the things I have learned over time for the last two years as a Senator responsible for defending the interests of the counties is that most of the counties are balkanized along the clans and tribal lines. But if you looked beneath it, the reason there is a lot of division in the counties – and we were told yesterday in Wajir by one of the public officers – that the main issue that people are fighting for now is not because you hear that the life of a Governor, a Member of County Assembly or a County Executive Committee (CEC) member is in danger. However, if you critically research this issue, you will find that the fight is all about contracts, deals and supply of services in the county. This dealing has led to a situation where I hear even in some counties, they say “this contract is for this clan; this contract is for this other clan” and so on. When this clan member does not get this contract, someone takes a gun and wants to kill an MCA from this area and so on, and so forth. So, there is a lot of corruption going on in the counties. There is also a lot of balkanization of the counties along ethnic lines. These are things that must be investigated. We must ensure that it is dealt well. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the President also noted matters of security, which are of immense concern in the country. We must secure this country. My Committee on Devolution went to Mandera. We felt bad that the borders of this county are not guarded 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."
}