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{
    "id": 673151,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/673151/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 18,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "The Senate Leader of Minority (",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Sen. Wetangula): Mr. Speaker, Sir, I listened to you very carefully - as I was driving here deliver- your ruling on the issue of security. I join the Deputy Speaker who raised the issue in lauding you and congratulating the management for at least stating in very clear terms as to what measures are being taken to secure the premises of Parliament and the occupants and even the visitors. It should not be lost to us that in the very recent past, about 10 years ago, the entire Parliament of the Republic of Iran was wiped out by a terrorist attack. Everybody except about 10 Members who walked out of the premise of Parliament were wiped out. You may also recall that in Lebanon, a similar incident occurred and three-quarters of the leadership of the country was wiped out by a terrorist attack on Parliament. Therefore, it can happen and it has happened elsewhere. We need to be very careful and submit ourselves to searches of ourselves, our bodies and vehicles. We should not look at our security operations as an inconvenience. That inconvenience may be life-saving in this Parliament. I also join the distinguished Senator and my neighbour from West Pokot in sending condolences to the families and friends of the police officers who were gunned down this morning. Reports coming in indicate that the casualties are seven. I also heard from the news that the terrorist who attacked and killed the police was, in fact, in custody in the same police station. He overpowered a police officer, took away his gun and used it to do what he did. This puts to question the manner in which our police officers are being trained. An officer who bears a weapon will under no circumstances, if properly trained, be disarmed by an unarmed person and then that weapon be used against him and many others. The committees for National Security and Foreign Relations in both Houses should start interrogating the manner, intensity and skills that our police officers are trained. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I do not believe going to Kiganjo for a crash programme of six months will give you all the necessary know how on how to face the situations such as the one in Kapenguria. To be taught how to hold a gun and fire - anybody can do it, even fools. However, how to live with that gun, secure yourself and others is what we must train. I urge that as Kenyans, we must take our security seriously. The Government, more than anybody else, must take the security of our country seriously. There are so many lapses and laxities. We may just wake up to something more serious than what happened in my neighbouring county of West Pokot. We collectively say pole to my brother Sen. (Prof.) Lonyangapuo and his people."
}