{"count":1608389,"next":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=261","previous":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=259","results":[{"id":2591,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/2591/?format=json","text_counter":282,"type":"other","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Prof. Saitoti): Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this very important Motion. From the outset, I want to make an appeal to Members of Parliament that at this moment, it is important for us to support more the Kenyan troops who are in Somalia today. As a matter of fact, just very briefly, touching on a historical account, it may be recalled that since President Siad Barre left Somalia in 1991, that country, which is a neighbouring country has never had a functioning Government. The institutions of the state have not existed because of the warring factions and activities. We have a country that needs the sympathy not only from us, Kenyans, but also from the international community. A whole generation has been lost. Young people have been born during this time; more than 20 years ago, and have not had the benefit of education despite the United Nation’s Charter that says every child has a right to education. The people of Somalia have not had the benefit of access to health, clean water and employment. They have suffered tremendously. We have always considered the neighbouring countries as our brothers although they lack functional institutions. I think we have to be very clear. They are our brothers because they live next to us. When they live in a situation of instability, it invariably affects our own security, economy and stability. We should begin from that. Kenya has fulfilled its international obligations. We have played host to the people of Somalia and others who have found it impossible and intolerable to live under difficult circumstances of insecurity and, of course, poverty and hunger. In 1991, we took over half a million refugees from Somalia. We all complained but we felt, as a country, we must fulfill our international obligations. These are people who are living in a neighbouring country and a problem in Somalia translates itself immediately, into a problem in this country. True, this has happened. The Americans immediately withdrew their troops from Somalia in 1992. Until recently, Somalia has been abandoned by the international community. The only country that has made an attempt to assist Somalia is this country. Our country has done that at a high cost. Of course, others will argue and say that those are the problems of Somalia. The Americans left, why should we be there? It would have been the biggest selfish mistake to abandon them. We have embarked on a very strong international advocacy that Somalia needs to be assisted. Why did the international community, for example, the European Union and America contribute troops that cost billions of dollars to go to Iraq and Afghanistan? Why not Somalia?"},{"id":2592,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/2592/?format=json","text_counter":283,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Applause)"},{"id":2593,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/2593/?format=json","text_counter":284,"type":"other","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"That has been a clarion cry. Is it because it is in Africa? I begin to understand that this thing, however painful it has been, is because we felt that Africa must also address its own problems. Days are gone when Africa had to depend on an outsider to solve our problems. For this reason, I would like to applaud the African Union. Through its Peace and Security Council, it has done a first class job. Our troops went to Somalia to safeguard the territorial integrity of that country. We have no any territorial ambition for Somalia. Our people live there. It is important that the troops come under the umbrella of the AMISOM. That way, we will broaden the international preoccupation in that country. This is because the problem of Somalia is not the not the problem of Kenya or Africa alone. It is a problem of the international community."},{"id":2594,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/2594/?format=json","text_counter":285,"type":"other","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"With those few remarks, I beg to support."},{"id":2595,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/2595/?format=json","text_counter":286,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Maj-Gen. Nkaisserry","speaker_title":"The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Defence","speaker":{"id":192,"legal_name":"Joseph Kasaine Ole Nkaissery","slug":"joseph-nkaissery"},"content":" Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir."},{"id":2596,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/2596/?format=json","text_counter":287,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Maj-Gen. Nkaisserry","speaker_title":"The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Defence","speaker":{"id":192,"legal_name":"Joseph Kasaine Ole Nkaissery","slug":"joseph-nkaissery"},"content":"I will be very brief in support of this very important Motion. First of all, let me take this opportunity to commend and congratulate the Kenya Defence Forces for a work well done. Our defence forces, as you know, are unmatched in this region. This is both in terms of discipline and professionalism. We have shown the world that training pays. The request by the Ministry through the Cabinet that we convert the defence forces to be part of AMISOM is very important. How can we convert our troops to be part of AMISOM to keep peace in Somalia?"},{"id":2597,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/2597/?format=json","text_counter":288,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Maj-Gen. Nkaisserry","speaker_title":"The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Defence","speaker":{"id":192,"legal_name":"Joseph Kasaine Ole Nkaissery","slug":"joseph-nkaissery"},"content":"Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Member for Lagdera when he was contributing said we will convert “ Linda Nchi ” to “ Okoa Somalia ”. That is really the message of peace."},{"id":2598,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/2598/?format=json","text_counter":289,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Maj-Gen. Nkaisserry","speaker_title":"The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Defence","speaker":{"id":192,"legal_name":"Joseph Kasaine Ole Nkaissery","slug":"joseph-nkaissery"},"content":"Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for Kenya to convert its armed forces to be part of AMISOM, we will take professionalism there. We are now in Somalia because of national security interest. That is why we are there. That is why the Cabinet approved the Kenya Defence Forces to operate there. They have not let us down. They have shown bravery."},{"id":2599,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/2599/?format=json","text_counter":290,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Maj-Gen. Nkaisserry","speaker_title":"The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Defence","speaker":{"id":192,"legal_name":"Joseph Kasaine Ole Nkaissery","slug":"joseph-nkaissery"},"content":"Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the strategy, and I happen to be one of the developers of that strategy, is to prevent, deter and defeat. This is what we are doing. The Al shabaab has been playing around with the Kenyan people. We moved in and now we are defeating them. Now we will convert, if this Parliament approves, to be part of the peace support operation in Somalia under the umbrella of AMISOM. We moved into Somalia under the UN Article 51 in self-defence. That is why we are there. That is why we have done a good job."},{"id":2600,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/2600/?format=json","text_counter":291,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Maj-Gen. Nkaisserry","speaker_title":"The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Defence","speaker":{"id":192,"legal_name":"Joseph Kasaine Ole Nkaissery","slug":"joseph-nkaissery"},"content":"Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I just want to bring very fundamental issues here. One, as we convert to be part of AMISOM, we want to know command and control aspect. Will our soldiers be under the command of AMISOM, or are we going to operate as a sector, so that we maintain respect and professionalism? That is one thing which will be decided at the AU."}]}