Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 691181,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/691181/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 249,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Nyenze",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1987,
        "legal_name": "Francis Mwanzia Nyenze (Deceased)",
        "slug": "francis-mwanzia-nyenze"
    },
    "content": "All the issues that had been raised before when this Motion came before this Parliament have been addressed. Those are the issues of unexploded ordinance, trying the British troops who commit crime in the country and corporate social responsibility where we have heard from Members from those areas that schools, roads, water provision and other services have been provided. I do not want us to narrow it to the areas that the UK had not favoured them, like the banning of miraa. Each country has priorities for its people and there is a reason. There are things that we also ban in this country but, as I said earlier, let us look at the bigger picture. So many Kenyans have benefited from this agreement. One is that you gain experience. I am asking the Chairman of the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee to also push the Cabinet Secretary so that we have more joint exercises to enable Kenyan troops gain from the British experience. We will also gain knowledge and acquire new technology and weaponry. It would be good for this country. While we have the British troops working in Kenya under this agreement, I am sure to the terrorists who keep attacking us; this Act is a deterrent because they know that we will acquire new skills to fight terrorism. It is good for this country. Without taking a lot of time, I know there are issues that have been raised about miraa. I also have my late father who served in the British army. He fought in Burma and Egypt. When he came back, he went to a bible college and converted to be a pastor. He is now deceased. I was asking him why he was not compensated for fighting for the British. It is something that I have always wanted to raise here. Those who are living and those who have died but fought for UK should, at some point, even if it is not monetary, get acknowledgment. People in this former colony fought for the Queen and they should be recognized. The other thing is the way the Mau Mau issue was handled. People struggled for liberation and won the case. The issue of compensation should come directly because the UK is a rich country and Kenya is a key strategic partner because it is the gateway to Africa. It should not wait until we go to courts to win. Let there be acknowledgment that atrocities were committed against the liberation struggle and the Mau Mau was not a terrorist organization. It was a liberation struggle group. The surviving members of Mau Mau like Kahengeri and others should be commended and properly compensated because they liberated this country. The other thing I want to say is that the UK will always remain Kenya’s friend. We have seen that before the Brexit. It was our anchor in European Union whenever it came to trade agreements, the export of our goods like cut flowers and the red rose. These are issues that we should always cherish and remain as friends, and not try to amplify those small differences that come between countries. We should look for the common good of the countries of the world. Britain is one of the nuclear countries. We have seen North Korea has joined the club. There are only six nuclear countries. They are USA, Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Britain, France and now North Korea. We have been talking about producing clean energy by using nuclear technology. It could be through this association. That is why I want us to ratify this agreement. From the mood of the House, most likely, we are going to ratify it. Let us borrow from the British the development and use of nuclear energy because Kenya is endowed with minerals, but it is deficient in energy supply. I am sure the UK can build nuclear plants in this country to produce clean and good electricity that will help this country develop. Last but not least, the UK has always remained Kenya’s representative on the global stage. Whenever Kenya is prodded to abide by the rule of law, to honour human rights, to act in a certain acceptable international standards, let it not be seen as if we are being dressed down. It is 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."
}