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{
"id": 811703,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/811703/?format=api",
"text_counter": 198,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Suba South, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. John Ng’ong’o",
"speaker": {
"id": 110,
"legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
"slug": "john-mbadi"
},
"content": "Uganda came out clearly to say that the Island is in Kenya, but the water is in Uganda, whatever that means. From his wording, it is clear that Migingo Island is in Kenya, but you will still find that the Uganda security forces are stationed on that Island. This is the only sovereign country which respects its territorial integrity - with the exception of a few countries in the Middle East where the American forces and other western forces, sometimes at will, move in - and one that has allowed foreign security agencies to be stationed in its country. Uganda and Tanzanians are our brothers. If these security forces were stationed in these islands but peacefully coexist with our people, then there would be no problem. Just a few weeks ago, I am sure the Member for Bondo will speak to this, in an island in Bondo Constituency, the Ugandan security officers came and arrested seven Kenyans, three of them police officers. What these Kenyans went through in the hands of the Ugandan security forces is traumatising. They later released the police officers, but still detained the four fishermen. I am not sure whether those four Kenyans have been released. What mistake have these Kenyans committed? These Kenyans have committed the mistake of fishing within Kenyan territory. The question that those of us who depend on fishing as a source of livelihood keep on asking is: Can we be told clearly and categorically whether Kenya has surrendered part of its territory to another country or not? This is the question that we have been asking many times. That is why I felt it was important to bring this issue here. Under Article 95 of the Constitution, this National Assembly has a responsibility to resolve issues and deliberate on unresolved issues that are of concern to the people of Kenya. The people who live near Lake Victoria who are suffering in the hands of these foreign forces are the people of this country. We have a responsibility as a nation to protect them. This is not even a matter that should be considered regional. It is a matter that covers the whole country. It is about our pride as a country. No country in the world would allow any foreign force to torture, frustrate and harass its own citizens. When you look at Article 238 of the Constitution talking about our national security, it is clear that national security is the protection against internal and external threats to Kenya’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, the rights of the people, freedoms, property, peace, stability, prosperity and other national interests. I represent Kenyans who live and fish around these islands. There is no peace, prosperity, stability and freedoms. Some of our fishermen are even being forced to eat raw fish as a punishment yet our Constitution is very clear that human beings must be treated with dignity. That is one cardinal right that we enjoy and it is not debatable. You have Kenyans being tortured within Kenya by foreign forces yet we pay taxes to protect ourselves. In fact, one of the reasons why people decided to form early governments is to protect themselves. That was the most important reason why governments exist. If a government cannot protect you, then you have no business having it. People pay taxes. We have national security organs like the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the National Police Service (NPS). These security organs are supposed to protect Kenyans. When these foreign forces come, where is our NIS? What advice is it giving to the Government in terms of protecting our territory? When these foreign forces come to Kenya, why would we have foreign forces helping Somalia to stabilise and we cannot help people around Migingo, Kiwa and Mfangano islands? There is a lot of insecurity. I am sure the Member for Suba North will speak to it. There is a lot of insecurity in Mfangano Island right inside Kenya. In Mfangano Island, you do not even have to go close to Lake Victoria to see Kiwa Island, yet people who come from another country, which is far off, bring their security forces to torture and frustrate our people. This is demeaning. I urge, this time using ‘urge’ The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}