Amb. Mohammed Abdi Affey

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 511 to 520 of 1040.

• 12 Oct 2010 in National Assembly: There is a general challenge of Somalia as a failed state. As somebody who has served as an ambassador there, I can tell you that the greatest challenge that Kenya faces today, the survival of Kenya and the security of Kenya is that of the failed state of Somalia. Therefore, it is not a matter that we can take lightly as citizens or as a Government. This is one single factor that must occupy the mind and the heart of the Kenyan Government, the President and the Cabinet almost on a 24-hour basis. In the other countries that have similar ... view
• 12 Oct 2010 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, what threatens Kenya, threatens the survival of our Parliament. This is the House which is the custodian of the Kenyan wishes more than the Government because the House consists of both those who voted for and against the Government. This is the right forum in which we should address that matter. Even as Parliament, we are not aware of the tragedy that is befalling Kenya and I do not think that we have taken the issue of Somalia seriously. view
• 12 Oct 2010 in National Assembly: We managed to host the Somali peace process in this country for two years. We created the Transitional Federal Government using the Kenyan taxpayers’ money. The basis of that institution is the Transitional Federal Charter. In our country, we have a Constitution. I want to congratulate the people of Kenya because in the history of Africa or even the world, there is no country, apart from Kenya, which has done away with an old Constitution and replaced it with a new one during a time of peace. All the other countries around us have done it through violence. In Uganda ... view
• 12 Oct 2010 in National Assembly: However, when we formed the Somali Transitional government, which is still very fragile and relocated it to Somalia, it was done without sufficient security guarantee and support. Therefore, as Parliament, we say that Kenya should never take its military forces to Somalia. Therefore, the challenge is that Kenya should never take its military forces into Somalia. We are proud that for the last 25 years or so that Somalia has had a problem, there has not been a single Kenyan military officer or police who has crossed the border to interfere with internal problems of Somalia. I want to congratulate ... view
• 12 Oct 2010 in National Assembly: I personally supervised the training of about 200 police officers. It was the best thing that we could do for them. Perhaps, we could do even more. But at no time did we envisage a situation where we will train Kenyans here to go to Somalia. I am glad that this matter has now been settled. view
• 12 Oct 2010 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we need a robust foreign policy and engagement regarding this matter. This matter cannot be wished away. That brings me to the question of creating a buffer zone. In Ethiopia, for instance, they created a buffer zone between their border and the Somali territory and created a situation of stability around there. I think the Government must be aggressive and persuasive enough to see how best the Kenyan security can be secured by creating a buffer zone right inside Somalia managed by the Somalis. They should be assisted inside. That was the idea of training ... view
• 12 Oct 2010 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would not be surprised if you found Kenyan youth – I know it is not with the support of the Government – who become vulnerable and go out to seek jobs, be it with the Al-Shabaab, the Transitional Federal Government or with any other organization there because the youth of the province are unemployed in large numbers. There is a huge catchment of young people in the province who have no jobs, who have been denied identification cards and who are highly educated. So, there is every possibility that any criminal with money can ... view
• 12 Oct 2010 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have suggested to the Government to consider using Kazi kwa Vijana. The youth are idle, they are very many, but the resources that the Ministry should have given to Kazi kwa Vijana fall short of expectations. Why can we not increase the resources towards these youth programmes and create employment opportunities for them here, so that they are not tempted to seek employment outside? This is food for thought for the Government. Why can we not register them? view
• 12 Oct 2010 in National Assembly: The biggest challenge we face as leaders from that area is that, every day, we find ourselves going to the Department of Registration trying to assist young Kenyan people who literally should have acquired identification cards. We are interceding on their behalf for the Department of Registration to register them. Therefore, we are victims of our own laws, we are victims of the chaos in Somalia and there is need, therefore, to address the Somali dilemma in Kenya. The Kenyans of Somali origin are living in very difficult circumstances in their own country. Therefore, in registering the youth – the ... view
• 12 Oct 2010 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is the issue of refugees and the challenge of the host community. The Report says that the refugees, even as they are refugees in the areas where they are based, they are getting services good enough, and that the national Government of Kenya cannot even provide similar services to the residents of that area who are in the neighborhood. The refugees have schools, piped water; they have boreholes, yet in the neighborhood, we have Kenyans who are just watching from a distance and seeing the refugees living in relative comfort. Then, there is a ... view