Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 84245,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/84245/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 213,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Wamalwa",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 148,
        "legal_name": "Eugene Ludovic Wamalwa",
        "slug": "eugene-wamalwa"
    },
    "content": "This was a fact-finding visit to Garissa, Dadaab and Voi between 11th and 13th November, 2009. I was part of the delegation that visited those places. We were surprised that in spite of many denials by the Government that there was recruitment of Somali youths of Kenyan origin, the facts on the ground were different. We found that, indeed, there had been recruitment of Kenyan youths of Somali origin from Garissa, Wajir and other areas in the northern Kenya. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the youths who were lured into that recruitment were mainly unemployed. They were promised that they would be recruited to join the United Nations. However, as things turned out, it was not to be. Indeed, when we followed up the issue, we were surprised to find that many young people had left Garissa, Wajir and other parts of the country. They had been loaded onto National Youth Service (NYS) trucks and, under escort of the military, taken to Manyani and Archers’ Post for training. We followed up the matter beyond Garissa and Dadaab. We actually visited Voi, and it was a very sorry state of affairs. When we arrived in Voi, we found a group of over 40 youths, who had actually been kicked out of Manyani training centre when it had been made abundantly clear to those in-charge of the training programme that the Joint Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security, and Defence and Foreign Relations, was visiting Manyani. Those young people were kicked out at night. Each one of them was given Kshs3,000, and we found them in Voi Town. Many of those whom we found were teenagers. Some of them were 17/18 years old. Others were 21 years old. Amongst them were those who had been lucky enough to find casual jobs to do. There was one who was a taxi drive. Owing to the temptation of earning over US$1,000 per month, he had abandoned his taxi in Garissa Town and was part of the team that went all the way to Manyani for training. They were kicked out into the cold by the trainers. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, what we must do away with is this culture of the Government denying matters whenever they are raised before the House. When matters are raised by leaders of this country, the Government’s first line of defence is denial, denial and denial. We went out and found the young people but"
}