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{
    "id": 574667,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/574667/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 50,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Katoo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 199,
        "legal_name": "Judah Katoo Ole-Metito",
        "slug": "judah-ole-metito"
    },
    "content": "numbers need to be doubled and the hardware modernised as much as possible. With such pacts or protocols in terms of the cooperation of East Africa now, we even need to do more. For the benefit of the country, this is not the first pact to be done globally. It may be the first one in our country but I just want to draw the attention of the Members that it has borrowed a lot from several examples in the world like the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Defence Pact. This comprises of 28 countries in North America and Europe. The purpose of it is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through both political and military means. It also considers an armed attack against a member State as an attack against all member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO); an attacker is liable to a collective security action. Coming back to our continent, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has a mutual defence pact developed in 2003 pursuant to the SADC Protocol on Defence, Politics and Security Co-operation. The SADC Protocol also considers that an armed attack against a member State is a threat to regional peace and security and can be subject to a collective action if approved by the SADC Summit. The Mutual Defence Pact is modelled along the SADC Mutual Defence Pact. So, it is not the first one of its kind. This has been done before. It is important that we approve it. It has a framework for co-operation on several fronts. I am sure the Chairperson of the Committee highlighted this while moving the Motion. For clarity this pact calls for co-operation in military training, joint operation and technical co-operation. There is also co-operation in field visits and exchange of information, especially on intelligence. It also creates an institutional co-ordination mechanism for defence co- operation. Above all it proposes what is called Status of Forces Agreement (SFA), which is also provided for in Section 37(2) of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Act. One of the major provisions of this Protocol on Defence Co-operation is that member States will now have criminal jurisdiction against the East African Co-operation Forces in their region. This Protocol clearly spells out the process of settlement of claims against visiting forces as contained in Section 37(1)(d) of the KDF Act. So, it qualifies the Act. It also talks about tax exemption on visiting forces’ salaries, which has been a very contentious issue. There is need for visiting forces to have their salaries exempted from taxation. The establishment of this collective defence territory for East Africa was signed by Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda on 20th February 2014, but it is open for the signatures of the other East African countries. It is for the entire EAC member States. It provides framework for collective action against threats to national security of partner States. This will provide the synergy that is required in combating crime, especially terrorism, because unity is strength. If the five EAC member States come together in terms of defence, that synergy will contribute to the realisation of desired results in protecting the lives and property of our people. The need for a collective action against aggressors will be determined by the Summit, which is convened by the chairperson. In case of any threat, the collective action taken will be reported to both the African Union (AU) and the UN Security Council. It will not be done through the rules of the jungle. This practical framework on common defence and joint operation provides a good procedure to undertake the operation. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}