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{
    "id": 58897,
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    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, those who come from Mandera will tell you that when this fighting began and there was that exchange between the TFG troops and the Al Shabaab troops, a number of these Al Shabaab and others attempted to cross the border. In the process of fighting, there was some collateral damage which affected some of our people in Mandera. It therefore became very necessary that we had to boost the number of our own military troops. We had also to boost the number of police; both regular and administration and ensure that these troops or security personnel have mobility so that they are able to quickly respond to any danger. This money has gone to ensure our own security along that border. It is not a short border; the border between Kenya and Somalia runs slightly more than 800 kilometers and all these people were trying to infiltrate into this country. So you do require means of quick transport. You do require all sorts of sophisticated gadgets to be able to detect guns and all other kinds of weapons. We have had to do this because we cannot take things for granted when we find that our own border is being threatened by people who have got no respect for human lives. It is our responsibility to do everything it takes to protect our own people. We had to use resources expeditiously and properly. That is being done and can be accounted for. But at the same time, we cannot refuse to use resources and yet our people are dying. All the investments that have been made here would have been destroyed. We also know that if the Al Shabaab and others had the opportunity, they are also targeting a number of our strategic installations in many other places. I do not want to go too far because it is not my intention to frighten Kenyans. Therefore, an increase of surveillance and intelligence gathering must also be boosted. Therefore, this particular factor of enhanced security is precisely supposed to safeguard the security of this country and even much more important, the integrity of our boundary with Somalia. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am also quite happy that resources that were important to augment the salary increase of the police have also been put in place. This is in accordance with the police reforms that are taking place now. We are committed to making sure that the major reforms will be entrenched in the police so that we are able to have a police that is able to work with the people; a police that is efficient and properly trained. I do not want to report here that we have gone a very long way in the police reforms. For example, two days ago, we were able to launch the new curriculum of the police because you would not be able at all to change the mind, character and culture of the police unless you introduce an appropriate curriculum. That is what we are going to do and that is the way to move. Let me also inform hon. Members that to demonstrate that we are really serious on the police reforms, already there are four Bills which we have prepared which have been presented to the stakeholders. They have been validated and they have also been submitted to the Constitution Implementation Commission (CIC), so that from there, they can be brought here. These Bills are first and foremost to ensure that we do have a new Police Service Commission. Policemen and policewomen will not just be ordinary civil servants. I beg to support this Motion."
}