Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 610457,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/610457/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 68,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Wetang’ula",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 3036,
        "legal_name": "Timothy Wanyonyi Wetangula",
        "slug": "timothy-wanyonyi-wetangula"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I also wish to support this important Motion by m he Wangamati, who is himself a second liberation freedom fighter. As we look and fight for the compensation of the families that suffered injustices during the colonial time, the Government that took over from the colonial government and the succeeding governments have not done any better, because most of these victims are people who are known. We also know their families. Most of these families were displaced from their farms. To date, most of these people are still squatters, yet we are looking for compensation from the British Government. The Kenyan Government must also take the first step to correct these injustices. These people should be taken back to their farms, or be compensated adequately for the loss of their farms and family members. There are many historical injustices in this country, and we know very well that communities across the country fought for freedom. If we just narrow it and say a few groups were involved, we shall be eliminating so many worthy groups. I remember a few years ago, a gentleman called General Mathenge came here from Ethiopia. However, it was proved that he was fake. The real Gen. Mathenge is another person who was a freedom fighter, and who disappeared into thin air, but somebody definitely knows where he is. There are many other freedom fighters who have disappeared without trace yet their families are still around. If the British Government gives us the condition that it is only those freedom fighters who are still alive who will be compensated, then this will be committing injustice against families. They must spread this compensation over all victims themselves, because most of the principal victims died but their families are still living. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the previous speaker has mentioned about the current victims who have suffered through the Nyayo torture. During our first Government and previous governments, we have had people who have suffered atrocities and people who have been detained without trial. These people must be identified and adequately compensated for being wronged by our own Governments and even the previous British Government. As I support this Motion, I also wish to say that we must be careful and identify the genuine ones because there are so many, who will come up pretending to be freedom fighters and even put in their names for compensation. We know Kenyans are very fast and innovative when it comes to creating things that do not exist. We must be very careful and create a genuine register as the previous speaker said. We should also audit this list and make sure that these people are adequately compensated and given their due respect. They should also be recognised on the national honours list, because we do not have a list of some of them. We read history but we do not know some of the freedom fighters, especially those from communities in western Kenya and other parts of the country. We only know 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."
}