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{
    "id": 587128,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/587128/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 173,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Okoth",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 12482,
        "legal_name": "Kenneth Odhiambo Okoth",
        "slug": "kenneth-odhiambo-okoth"
    },
    "content": "The issue of the Elemi Triangle has been mentioned and has been festering for long. Recently, we had the Government of Somaliland purporting to sue Kenya at the International Court of Justice over issues about access to fishing grounds in the Indian Ocean. I hope that the coming of this Pact will help us to resolve some of the issues like the Migingo Island and the Elemi Triangle disputes, the Indian Ocean borders and access to fishing rights in those areas. My final point is that we have to be vigilant in the national interest of Kenya and ensure that beyond this mutual security Pact, we emulate the example of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) for many countries like the United States of America (USA) and Northern Europe that was forged during the Cold War. We do not want - we have to be very careful - countries that are not democratic, and have long-serving leaders, who are not the example of leaders that we should follow. We should ensure that they do not push their countries into conflicts that then obligate us, through the terms of this Pact, to side with them. That is a very critical thing. Kenya, as a country, will be bold where necessary and when a neighbouring and friendly country is under threat, such a country can count on our mutual support. That would be critical, otherwise, the Pact would not make sense at all. With those few remarks, I return my compliments to the Committee for the good work done. I hope that we will be seeing more treaties coming to this House for ratification. Of particular concern is a treaty about free trade and special economic zones agreement between Kenya and Mauritius that was signed but has never been brought to this House, yet it has great implications for our economy. If you think about the possibility of Kenyan companies setting up branches in Mauritius and operating freely as they do most of their work here--- They will declare their profits and tax obligations in Mauritius. That will have a potentially negative impact on us. So, I urge the Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, as well as the Committee on Finance, Planning and Trade, to look into such arrangements and bring treaties here for proper scrutiny to make sure we know what we are signing and how it will benefit Kenya. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}