HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 649581,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/649581/?format=api",
"text_counter": 241,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Cheptumo",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 50,
"legal_name": "William Cheptumo Kipkiror",
"slug": "william-kipkiror"
},
"content": "also aware, that we have had this challenge in Turkana, West Pokot, Migori, Narok, Marsabit, Elgeyo Marakwet, Meru, Samburu, Tana River, Wajir and Isiolo counties, just to name a few. So, it is a national challenge. I am only addressing it because my county and my constituency in particular, is a victim of this menace. This practice should not be allowed to continue; it should be stopped. It is no longer acceptable that innocent Kenyans continue to suffer and are denied the enjoyment of their social, economic and political rights which are guaranteed by Chapter 4 on the Bill of the Rights of the Constitution. It is important for this House. I recognise that this is the House where national leaders assemble to deal with the issues facing the people. This menace, as I said earlier, has caused a lot of suffering. This House, and indeed the country, would want to know the extent of the suffering the Kenyan people have gone through. As a result of this cattle-rustling menace, which as I have said has affected many counties in our country, Kenyans in thousands, perhaps even millions, have been killed, injured or maimed. Arising from this, we have had widows, widowers, orphaned children in thousands, perhaps even in millions. If the Government were to care and take statistics in every affected county, the statistics would be shocking because I know the number of people who have suffered would be in thousands and millions. That is the first effect of this primitive practice which has affected the lives of our people. There have been thousands and millions of lives lost, orphaned children, widows and widowers created in our country. I want the country and this House to also note that livestock in millions have also been stolen from the owners of the livestock. You talk of cows, goats, sheep, camels and other livestock. If they were stolen and recovered, that would be a comforting situation. More often than not, this livestock is not recovered. They are stolen and never recovered. This is the only economic resource for a person who relies on livestock as a livelihood to pay fees for his child, buy food for the family, clothe the family and do anything touching on the family. When they lose their livestock through this theft, you can imagine the suffering. Those children end up not going to school, families end up having no food and clothes. Every part of their lives is affected. When I was in Standard One, my father had about 110 cows, 150 goats and several sheep. In 1977, this livestock was wiped out one afternoon on a Thursday between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. I would describe my father then to have been a millionaire. Why? If you have 150 cows and you sell one cow for Kshs10,000, that is not small money. I am not even mentioning the value of the goats and sheep. In short, my father then, was a millionaire. From a millionaire on a Thursday morning, by the end of the day, he was a beggar with nothing to feed the family, clothe the family and so on. That is why my entire education life was paid for by the public. There was nothing that my parents could afford to pay. That is just an example. I am very sure in Kisii County, Turkana County, West Pokot County and other counties, families can narrate a similar story. I am privileged that I am able to say it in this House because there are many others who do not have a chance to say it. I want to speak for them at this point. This is a scenario which should be dealt with and concluded Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the other suffering brought about by this challenge is that when raiders strike, they not only steal livestock but they also burn houses and stores. Not only do the people lose their livestock but their shelters are also burnt. So a person ends up having no food, livestock or shelter. Therefore, they face serious challenges. They also face 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."
}