HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 691132,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/691132/?format=api",
"text_counter": 200,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. J.K. Ng’ang’a",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 54,
"legal_name": "Joseph Nganga Kiuna",
"slug": "joseph-kiuna"
},
"content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I am grateful. I was almost giving up. I came here very early in the morning. I have been waiting all along but, at long last, you have “caught my eye”. I wish to support this Bill with some few comments. If you look at where we have come from as a nation, we were a British colony. Although we gained independence, we still have a lot to learn from them. We have gained much, but we still have a lot to learn from them. If we can look at this issue boldly, those people who are opposing will support. Although I have not heard of any particular one, but they have been pin-pointing some issues here and there, which need to be rectified. It is true that those communities living around the affected areas such as Samburu, Isiolo and Meru have issues. However, we have to look at it broadly, the gains, advantages and disadvantages. Our military forces have come from far and have gained a lot from the British Army. Majority of our military personnel’s arsenals and drill that they use were inherited from the British, and it would be very difficult for us to change overnight. Everything has it’s time and there is the way we can tackle them. There are those issues which can be handled diplomatically when it comes to issues of miraa, people from Meru and Mbeere have a reason to complain. However, there is a way of tackling those issues because we have a very cordial relationship between the Kenya Government and the Britain Government. If there are issues which need to be sorted out, our foreign missions are supposed to work with them and see how they can intervene so that we can benefit. In my opinion, the British Government has helped this nation. Nanyuki’s economy relies on the existence of those barracks, especially the United Kingdom’s (UK) Army. Even when it comes to the tourism industry, majority of hotels in Nanyuki and Isiolo are doing well because of them. On the issue of the people who have been injured while the military are doing the exercise, there are those isolated cases. But as I said earlier, they should be tackled diplomatically. We have to look at the gains and laws. We do not have to condemn everything because of a petty issue which has come up. If you look at it globally, the Government of Kenya and the Government of the United Kingdom (UK) have a lot in common, and which they share, especially when it comes to the issue of terrorism. We have to share some intelligence. It is like the way the Government of Kenya dealt with Al-Shabaab and other terrorists groups. It is also the same on the side of hard drugs, like the ones that were destroyed at the Port of Mombasa. With that kind of information, we have to act in collaboration with not only the Government of UK, but also with the rest of the world. I support this Bill and request my fellow colleagues that, as we debate on such issues, we should not be trivializing small issues and amplifying them to mean that we are not benefiting. We have a lot to benefit and, at the same time, we have a long way to go and so, we cannot condemn them. With those few remarks, I support the Motion."
}