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{
    "id": 718014,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/718014/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 325,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Okoth",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 12482,
        "legal_name": "Kenneth Odhiambo Okoth",
        "slug": "kenneth-odhiambo-okoth"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to contribute to this Motion with a heavy heart in solidarity with the people who are suffering in the ASAL parts of this country. Kenya is a stable country with a functioning government that is guided by the rule of law. It is sad and disappointing that in the 21st Century our people do not have opportunities. We give excuses and hide behind culture as cattle rustling continues. I do not suppose that in today’s modern world peculiar English words like “rustling” are widely being used elsewhere as in Kenya. That is not a point of pride but a point of shame. It has been said that in the East African region, Uganda has been leading in this practice. We take pride in being a more organised and stable country. People in countries that have been in conflict, like Somalia, do not engage in cattle rustling. We do not have cattle rustling in Tanzania. Therefore, the excuses that we are giving, and the issue of political linkages in Kenya, must be dealt with once and for all. The people engaging in this bad practice must face the consequences of their deeds. Hon. Sakaja brought amendments in the areas of crime, procedure and the sentencing guidelines. Specific crimes associated with and disguised as cattle rusting, theft of livestock, trade in stolen livestock, among others, were covered with very specific penalties. Therefore, the Departmental Committee responsible for national security should look again at the amendments that were brought by Hon. Sakaja. The Implementation Committee should work with the Executive arm of the Government to see if those amendments are being implemented. We do not want to be a House that legislates in vain. The legislations that we pass here, in the interest of our people, must be implemented. We are in an election year. Choices have consequences. People in the areas affected by cattle rustling voted overwhelmingly for the Jubilee Government. It is clear that the Jubilee Government does not have their interests at heart or it has not prioritised the fight against cattle rustling. The Government did not care in the past, it does not care today, and it will not care in the future. That is why we have this Adjournment Motion. The matter has not been prioritised as demanded by the reality on the ground. We are now left with this House to speak and plead with the Government, on behalf of the affected communities, to give attention to these issues. As we prepare to vote, we are talking about climate change and other major issues. We have a national policy on climate change. We have the sustainable development goals. We have very advanced scientists and academicians at our universities are experts who can help us to see how people in ASAL areas can, in the long term, cope with the realities of a world in which the climate is changing. If you look at the global context, climate change is one of the biggest causes of insecurity. It is responsible for the emerging national security threats in our country as well as what is happening around the globe. Lake Turkana is drying up. In our foreign policy, we have not engaged properly with Ethiopia regarding the dams they are building across River Omo, which will lead to the drying up of Lake 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."
}