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{
    "id": 691141,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/691141/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 209,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Kajuju",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 840,
        "legal_name": "Florence Kajuju",
        "slug": "florence-kajuju"
    },
    "content": "tell you all politics are local. My first and foremost interest is the Meru people who grow, sell and consume miraa . We have also been told that there is an Article in this DCA that takes care of our interests. I have read it and the closest I have come to a Clause that would look at us is Article 3(i), which talks about other areas of mutual interest, which may be decided upon in future between the Government of Kenya and the Government of UK. The Leader of the Majority Party said that there is an opportunity for us to negotiate and take care of our interests. He also said that after six months, we can relook at this issue if there is breach. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I know you are lawyer and I respect you for that. You cannot breach that which has not been agreed upon. If the interests of the people of Meru County are not being catered for in this agreement, how then would you tell me there will be breach so that there is review after six months? The best that this DCA would have done is for it to come, with room for amendments. We are being told that we cannot even attempt to amend a coma, leave alone a full stop. Why am I being told that I need to support it? My conscience cannot allow me. Hon. Kimaru has said that he is a great beneficially of what the British Government has done in his constituency. That is his constituency and I dare say that the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) the British Government has done is only limited to some areas, without considering other areas that have been affected by the activities of the Government of UK. They have received benefits and other things and the Meru people have nothing. What we are being told is to look at the greater good of Kenya and forget the Meru people so that even if they die, Kenya can still go on. I cannot support this. The British Government has very many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) but, instead of telling us how they are going to help us, they are just dangling a carrot, which is just like the “Sword of Damocles”. If this Defence Co- operation Agreement is passed, there must be a way in which the Meru community must be treated. There are around five constituencies that are suffering today. Children have dropped out of school because their parents cannot earn a single cent to take them to school. Permanently, I am pleading with the Government to give me relief food. Even today in the morning, I was speaking to the Principal Secretary (PS) for Special Programmes to give me relief food. That was never known in Meru County until the ban. Forgive me my brothers and sisters, but I am not going to support this Agreement. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker."
}