Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 836906,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/836906/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 233,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kisii CWR, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Janet Ong’era",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13117,
        "legal_name": "Janet Ongera",
        "slug": "janet-ongera"
    },
    "content": "there are some gray areas which they need to look into. Indeed, we need to improve the infrastructure of our missions abroad so as to alleviate the suffering of our staff. They should also be accorded training opportunities. However, the big elephant in the room is the kind of services these officers offer to Kenyans living abroad. I am particularly concerned about Saudi Arabia. As Members have indicated this afternoon many of our girls are raped in that country, others are molested and live like slaves when they go there as domestic workers. We need a solution to this problem because none has been found for the last five years. Despite this matter being discussed in this House and being raised severally no solution has been given. Recently, when there was pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, there was nobody from the Kenya Embassy who came to the aide of Kenyans when an incident happened. However, not all is lost, because there are some embassies which are representing us well. The Kenya High Commission in South Africa is doing an excellent job led by High Commissioner Jean Kamau. They are offering excellent services to Kenyan delegates attending the Pan-African Parliament. This High Commission goes out of its way to ensure that delegates are comfortable while in South Africa. On matters security particularly, we all know that Johannesburg is a dangerous city. However, this Commission goes out of its way to provide security to delegates of Pan-African Parliament and, indeed, other MPs when they visit South Africa. The good job they are doing should be noted in the HANSARD. However, as we think about improving infrastructure and capacity of our missions abroad we should do due diligence. Do we need many missions abroad or can we combine some so that they can offer effective services. Another issue is about foreign policy, what are we doing about it? Are we talking about economic foreign policy or shuttle diplomacy? Perhaps, there is need for us to start thinking about Kenya changing its foreign policy so that it meets the changing times like other countries. For example, the European nations’ foreign policies are sensitive to the needs of their citizens. Therefore, it is high time the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began to rethink about our foreign policy and find out if it is sensitive to the citizenry. Finally, I urge the Chair of this important Committee that it is not enough to lay the Report on the Table. We need solutions. We should see laid down solutions so that they can be passed to the Committee on Implementation. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker."
}