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{
    "id": 926821,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/926821/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 67,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise to give my few unorthodox views on this Statement. This Statement has come at a very sensitive time in this country when our children seldom know whether they are Maasais, Kikuyus or Kalenjins. I long for the time when we can look at ourselves as one country, as Kenyans. Having said that, I am also alive to the fact that the issue of ethnicity is more inclined to the issue of resources getting to the people. Although I support my colleague, Sen. Malalah, this is a very dangerous Statement, in my view. I hope that we can look at ourselves as Kenyans. If I ask my seven-year-old son the difference between a Maasai and a Kalenjin, he does not know. Who will give a hoot in hell what the difference is? It is time we reward merit but not look at people in terms of where and from which ethnic group they come from. Some of us who are the minority, if we were to go in that direction, it would not be good. This problem is not confined to Kenya but the whole of Africa and the world; where people are not able to manage diversity in terms of ethnicity. As this Committee looks at this issue, they should bear in mind that some of these things which are being requested by my colleagues are very dangerous. The Statement is requesting that a list of the number of Government Ministries, embassies, State agencies, departments and parastatals as currently constituted in Kenya be provided. Secondly, it is requesting that we be told which ethnic group they come from. Are they not Kenyans? We have to be very careful on how we proceed in terms of bringing affirmative action on the issue of inclusivity. I would urge the Committee looking at this, that the first thing that should lead them in getting facts so that we can advance affirmative action, is by defining who are these Kenyans and what part of Kenya they come from. This will ensure that the 47 county governments that we have feel represented in the big national cake."
}