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{
    "id": 633077,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/633077/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 515,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Wakhungu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1889,
        "legal_name": "Chrisantus Wamalwa Wakhungu",
        "slug": "chrisantus-wamalwa-wakhungu"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is, indeed, embarrassing for this country that we are still discussing the issue of Migingo Island. This issue has been there for so long. What happened during the voter registration exercise is unacceptable. It is within the constitutional rights of the people of Migingo to register as voters. That right is outlined in Article 38 of the Constitution. The incident that happened is bad. Kenya is a sovereign State. I do not see why the Government of Kenya has been very magnanimous to the Government of Uganda. I know that Uganda is our leading trading partner. However, they have gone beyond reasonable limits and this is not acceptable. The people of Migingo are registered Kenyans. They also pay taxes. Therefore, they deserve security. Article 29 of the Constitution is very clear that every citizen has a right to security. Why the Government is dilly-dallying is not known. Does it mean that the people of Migingo are not Kenyans? Does it mean that the people of Migingo Island do not pay taxes? Why have the people of Migingo Island been discriminated against for so long? We need answers to these questions. I am aware of a petition that has been brought to this House by someone from Migingo Island. It is directed at the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations. One of the prayers of the petitioner is that the security forces and the military be deployed in Migingo. I do not see why this has not happened and yet we have our security forces in Somalia. Uganda has gone beyond the limit. It is high time we said “no” to what they are doing to us. Even in Trans-Nzoia County, we have problems with the same Ugandans who have been crossing over to register as voters. They are being issued with national identity cards yet they are not Kenyans. Does it mean that the Government knows what is going on? We have raised this matter with local administration and the police, but nothing is being done. Ugandans have been crossing over to Saboti and Endebess constituencies where they have been registering as voters. These are some of the issues that we must address. It is time Parliament spoke. We are aware of a survey that was done during the 10th Parliament where coordinates were established. It was, indeed, established, and it is on record, that Migingo Island is in Kenya. President Museveni once said that the rocks in Migingo belong to Kenya, but the waters surrounding them were in Uganda. That does not make sense. It is very unreasonable and we have had a lot of respect for the President, but it is becoming too much. It is high time the Cabinet Secretaries, Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs listened. It is time they woke up to defend the people of Migingo. It has taken forever. We should not accept discrimination any more."
}