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"id": 950416,
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"speaker_name": "Sen. Wetangula",
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"speaker": {
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"legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I belong to the Committee that she is probably directing the question to, if it is a matter of security. However, if it is an issue to do with transport, it belongs to another Committee. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as I support her Statement, I think she should have even gone further. The most important issue is that Somalia and Kenya are neighbours with very strong cultural and economic links; and friendly governments, notwithstanding what is going on in the Indian Ocean. The current Somali Government was born in Nairobi. When Siad Barre was overthrown, he fled to Nairobi. When our Somali brothers leave Mogadishu, their first point of call is Nairobi. The Committee should engage the Ministry concerned, whether it is security or transport, and ask the sense of directing flights from Mogadishu to Wajir then to Nairobi. Are we saying that if such planes are carrying any hazardous material or are a danger to security, the security of the people of Wajir does not matter, and it is the security in Nairobi that is important? More importantly, Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Government must engage the Government of Somalia. If we want to do thorough and proper security checks in bilateral arrangements, the Government of Kenya security agencies can collaborate and cooperate with the security agencies of Somalia. That way, they will participate in security checks in Mogadishu, before the planes take off, so that they land in Nairobi in real time for people to do their business. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am now told – and the Committee that will deal with this matter must also check – that in reciprocity, which is negative reciprocity, the Somali Government is now saying that any planes from Kenya to anywhere in Somalia must also first land in Mogadishu. So, you cannot fly directly to Hargeisa, Kismayu or Baidoa. You must also go through the same inconvenience of flying to Mogadishu for alleged security checks before you go wherever you want. This is not how neighbours should conduct their business. The two governments and the Committee – if it is our Committee - and the Vice-Chairperson – who is my distinguished nephew – who is here, must engage the Ministry to understand that security is not about preventing people from travelling. Security is about doing everything possible to make it easy for people to travel in a cost effective and real-time way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir."
}