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{
    "id": 926650,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/926650/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 347,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kajiado South, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Katoo ole Metito",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13239,
        "legal_name": "Janet Marania Teyiaa",
        "slug": "janet-marania-teyiaa"
    },
    "content": "understand that the Indian Ocean coastal line is very vast and long. So, it is not possible for one State to undertake security operations very effectively. There was need to pull together resources, synergies, experiences and capacity and do a coordinated response to the threats that I have mentioned. Of course, there are also limited resources in terms of budget and financial resources that are required to support the naval operations. The operations along the sea are done by ships and are very expensive. We were made to understand that fueling one ship per day to monitor the illegal operations or activities in the sea costs Kshs10 million. This is a very expensive exercise both in terms of time, resources and expertise. Therefore, there is need to have a coordinated response to it and a coordinated use of financial resources to do this. That is the reason the States came together to form the Indian Ocean Commission as well as the Western Indian Ocean Coastal States. As I have said, coming together will provide a regional framework for undertaking joint coordinated operations by the State parties. It will also provide a framework that is necessary to coordinate search and rescue operations because the illegal operations at times even lead to abduction of human beings. It has happened many times in the coastal region, especially in Lamu. So, there is need to fast-track coordination of search and rescue operations. This cannot be done unless a mechanism is put in place where these member States can share real time or near real time information along the coastal region. Two institutions were formed. One is the Regional Coordination Operation Centre that is based in Seychelles and the other one is the Regional Maritime Information Vision Centre based in Madagascar. Those are the two bodies that are under this Agreement. The host of the Regional Coordination Operation Centre in Seychelles is going to provide the budget for the running of the day to day operations. So, it is not easy. Some countries are going an extra mile to bear the cost of manning the Indian Coastal Region. This centre in Seychelles will coordinate joint operation between the party States. These State parties have also committed to conduct joint training and exercises. As I said, there will be a lot of training. This is a new area and there is a lot that can be exploited in terms of training and exercises. Therefore, they are going to conduct joint trainings and exercises among the seven States. This will enhance the capacity of each of the State parties. To undertake maritime operations, capacity building is necessary because this is a dynamic field. It keeps on changing, especially on the tactics and strategies that are required to avert threats. Therefore continuous training is key. On our side, the Kenya Navy and the Kenya Coast Guard will benefit in terms of capacity building. So, it is a plus. It is also an opportunity to suppress threats in the Western Indian Ocean before they happen. Therefore, by extension, as my Vice-Chairperson said earlier on, it will contribute to national security of the Republic of Kenya and the overall economy of this country. The Regional Maritime Information Vision Centre based in Madagascar is expected to receive information that is going to be shared in real time or near real time basis. More importantly, as I conclude, countries will have a say. They can decide what to share and what not to share. If they think something will be important for their national security as a State, then, they will keep it secret."
}