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{
    "id": 549992,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/549992/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 134,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wetangula",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Minority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 210,
        "legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
        "slug": "moses-wetangula"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I stand in conformity with the Standing Order No.45 and Standing Order No.1 to seek a very urgent Statement from the Chairperson of the Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations on the unfolding events in the Republic of Burundi. The breaking news messages indicate that the military has staged a coup in Burundi. In ordinary circumstances when such coups are committed, there is lawlessness, breakdown of law and order, danger to human life and the security of property. I recall a couple of days ago when you as the Chair of the FP-ICGLR parliamentary leadership, urged the East African Community (EAC) leaders to step in and resolve the issues in Burundi. Three weeks ago, I travelled to Burundi under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) to try to see how we could resolve the impasse' following the declaration of the President to run for a third term. Obviously, the East African presidents dragged their feet. I understand that they are now in Dar es salaam with the President who may have been deposed in Burundi trying to resolve the problem; but coming too little too late. My statement would require the Chair to urgently inform this House and the country the status of the safety of our nationals in the Republic of Burundi. We have an embassy in Bujumbura and we have many Kenyans who are either doing business or working through bilateral engagements or working as teachers in universities, schools and other tertiary colleges. We want to hear from the Government how urgently they can evacuate Kenyan nationals back to Kenya until the situation normalizes before they can go back to carry on with their duties because of the fluid situation given the genocidal history of that region, particularly the endless conflict between the Hutu and the Tutsi communities. Lastly, how are the East African Region and the African Union positioning themselves to forestall any possible mass loss of lives? Today, at 12.00 noon, the BBC was announcing that for the first time demonstrators that were armed with all manners of crude weapons had entered the city centre. This would invariably be followed by looting and attacks on innocent peoples and Kenyans could be caught in the cross fire because I know we have Kenyans banks in Burundi and Kenyans running eateries, restaurants, hotels, bars and other businesses. More importantly, there are many young Kenyan girls and boys who work in hotels in Burundi like they do all over the East African Region. This Statement is so important that I would request that you direct that it be issued tomorrow because Kenyans are anxious to know about the safety of the compatriots."
}