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{
    "id": 896318,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/896318/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 229,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, ANC",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Godfrey Osotsi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13172,
        "legal_name": "Godfrey Osotsi",
        "slug": "godfrey-osotsi"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this very important Motion. I support this Motion. I will comment on specific things. As you are aware, the Constitution requires the President to address Parliament on two key issues, namely, national values as enshrined under Article 10 and also to report to Parliament on the progress on international obligations. Most of the Members who have contributed have discussed a lot about the first item which is national values. I want to talk more about the progress made on international obligations. There is a Report that the President tabled which I encourage Members to read through because it contains very important information as far as the achievement of international obligations is concerned. I am concerned about the Report on the fulfilment of international obligations because Kenya is a member of 84 international organisations. If you look at the schedule of subscription, you realise that Kenya has defaulted on subscription to most of those organisations. This raises a major concern as to whether it is necessary for the country to continue holding membership in those many international organisations. This is an issue that I expected the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations to also talk about. It is high time we audited our membership in all those international organisations. What is the value addition to our economy? Secondly, the foreign policy of this country, which was adopted in January, 2015, needs to be looked into. We need to put a lot more emphasis on economic diplomacy. We should not just have a foreign policy that does not look at the economic benefits that our engagement with the international community brings. I am also happy that Kenya has made strides in taking leadership of key international organisations. For example, we are now in the leadership of the African Telecommunications Union, the International Renewable Energy Agency and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. We are making progress as a country. The country is also lobbying to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). These are very strategic engagements which, if well-utilised, will make this country make progress economically. 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."
}