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{
    "id": 774060,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/774060/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 191,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am responding to the specific question that was raised. I am just telling my colleagues that it is not that we are insensitive. We are very sympathetic about the specific issue that has happened now. We are also aware of what has been going on in that area. This is why I am telling Members that I will not come and give a cosmetic statement on the Floor of the Senate on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. If you are used to other Chairpersons just saying: “The Government is dealing with this matter”, I will not do so. However, I am telling Members, as we wait for that comprehensive Statement, I am ready to even walk with the Senator from Samburu County to the offices of the Inspector General (IG)of Police and the Cabinet Secretary (CS), to urge for immediate intervention as we get a comprehensive Statement to deal with the situation. If what we want is just a statement saying that this is being dealt with, that is not what will bring back the cows. The Statement will not feed those families. It is the urgent interventions by Government that will do that. Finally, as a Committee, we will be willing to interact with this programme that the Senate Majority Leader has spoken about in all those areas and then pick up from what was done in the last committee of the last Parliament. We had an issue of amendment of the penal code to deal with cattle rustling. Many times cattle rustling happens and the elders say: “Exchange cows and deal with this matter.” Meanwhile, people’s lives are lost, houses and torched. Those crimes must be taken for the crimes they are. If it is robbery with violence, it is that. If it is arson, it is. There is no such thing as cattle rustling. I urge this House to support the amendments to the penal code to call those crimes for what they are. You cannot rape women and then you are told to exchange cows. Since these people know that there are no penalties or they are subdued, it is going on and it is now a commercial practice. I am sure – God forbid, again – those cows are in a track heading to Mombasa, slaughtered. They rustle 1,000 cows and you will not trace them not because they are lost under trees or because of the terrain, but because they actually slaughter and transport them and ship them out of the country. We will deal with the exhaustive issue of cattle rustling around the country. However, on this specific, I urge the indulgence of the Senate. We can deal with the immediate intervention even today. We can even seek leave of the House to walk with him across to the Ministry of Interior and National Coordination and find out what is being done on the ground. Let us not ask for a cosmetic statement on the Floor of this House."
}