HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 903998,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/903998/?format=api",
"text_counter": 51,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Halake",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13184,
"legal_name": "Abshiro Soka Halake",
"slug": "abshiro-soka-halake"
},
"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank you for giving me this opportunity. I rise to support the Statement by the Senate Majority Leader. He was speaking on behalf of the people of Elgeyo-Marakwet. In 2017, we had additional NPRs; about 1,700. At that point, it was based on an analysis of the security situation in Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Laikipia, Baringo, Isiolo and other counties facing similar security challenges. The NPRs found the need to recruit additional police reservists in 2017. What is the vetting for, a year and a half later? We are talking about 9,000 police reservists. In Isiolo County, for example, there are only 130 of them and all their 130 guns have been taken away from them. Considering the volatility of northern Kenya and other parts in the north Rift, it is unacceptable. If there was need, based on analysis of the security situation that then justified the additional police reservists, what has changed in the few months between March 2017, at the time when the security situation needed supplementary support from the NPRs and now? How long does it take? We are aware that there are small arms that have proliferated into our country from the Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia borders. Counties at the border have been under threat. As we speak, our hospitals are not manned. Our schools do not have teachers because of insecurity. When we talk of marginalisation, this one goes right to the core of it. How do you withdraw security from these areas whereas the Government found this security necessary just a few months ago, in 2017? If I may give the breakdown for these counties, we are not talking about big numbers. We are talking of small numbers. We are talking of a total of 7,000 as of 2017 and the additional 1,700, totaling to 9,300 where Turkana County had only 1,617; West Pokot, 685; Samburu, 1,400; Wajir, 336; Garissa, 116 and Tana River, 280. We are not talking about many arms. We are talking about very few guns that have been keeping the peace, complementing and supplementing our forces on the ground. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is unacceptable in this day and age for a Government policy to change just a few months without justification, participation of leaders or any explanation. The security docket has become rogue. We are told that because of national security, we cannot question the budget. We must ask why the NPRs have been withdrawn because they protect lives and our economies as our colleague from Narok has said. That is also a social right. We do not have teachers in schools, doctors in hospitals and quarry workers, because of insecurity. So, who will look at the plight of people in hard to reach insecure places if we cannot be told why the NPRs have been withdrawn from Isiolo and other counties? Last The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}