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{
"id": 960412,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/960412/?format=api",
"text_counter": 223,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13162,
"legal_name": "Moses Otieno Kajwang'",
"slug": "moses-otieno-kajwang"
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"content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, coming back to the content of this Motion before us, our disciplined forces play an important role. They enable us to sleep soundly at night, knowing that the environment that we sleep in and the borders of our country are safe and secure. Were it not for them, we would then still continue with the practice that our forefathers practiced. In my father’s house when we were growing up, he always had a spear in a corner; a simi, a bow and arrows somewhere. This is because they were brought up to believe that they have to defend themselves. However, with advancements and professionalism of our disciplined forces and security forces, it has become less necessary for us to sleep with spears and clubs under our beds. In fact, those who still maintain those archaic weapons under their beds do not use them against thieves and other vagabonds; some end up using them on their spouses. I want to say: “Shame on you” to those men who convert the use of those spears, rungus, bows and arrows to instruments of domestic violence, because our forefathers kept them in the house to deal with external aggression. However, now that we have a very professional and disciplined security service, particularly those that protect our borders, I believe that we need to invest more trust and resources in making sure that these disciplined forces are able to undertake their duties. Madam Temporary Speaker, the history of neglect of our disciplined forces is as long as the history of this Republic; it is on record and it is a fact that no one can refute. Those people who went to the forests to fight for land, particularly in the areas in this Republic where the white man appropriated land without compensation; what we call the Kenya Land Army were ignored by the colonial government. These include those that operated in the forest around Central Kenya in the Aberdares. When we finally got Independence, the fighters who had gone to the bush were the first who were ignored by the post-colonial Government. Some of them went back to the bush and died. Some of them died in abject poverty while the sons, daughters and grandchildren of home guards benefitted. These are the people who were siding with white people in this country to give land to the Whites at the expense of the Africans, who are indigenous and the natives. Consequently, those people who formed what you can call the original army of this Republic, that was fighting against the land invasions, suffered. These people were not just in Central Kenya; if you go to the Rift Valley, the Talai Clan of the Nandi Community put up a spirited fight against land grabbing in their respective areas. For their efforts, the Talai were exiled; some were sent to Mfangano Island in my County; others were sent to Lambwe Valley, where Tse tse flies were supposed to have killed them; while others were sent to all sort of inhospitable places. We have always paid members of our disciplined forces with a very bitter pill, because they fight and protect us, and when we are secure, healthy and strong, we take everything that they have fought for and leave them with nothing. Madam Temporary Speaker, it is not only about the material benefits that should be given to these members of the disciplined forces. They also need support structures. Very recently, I visited the United Kingdom (UK) and we went to London. While there, we met a Kenyan who has been there long enough to serve in Her Majesty’s army. This 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."
}