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{
    "id": 101844,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/101844/?format=api",
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    "content": "(Prof. Saitoti): Thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. First of all, I want to record my appreciation to all the hon. Members who have spoken in support of this Bill. This is an indication that this Bill was overdue. From the crimes we have experienced especially the kidnapping, we want to ensure that this Bill is enacted into law so that the police can address this menace that Kenyans experience all the time. Hon. Members have given various reasons for the existence of a number of organized criminal gangs. I agree that our economy cannot create employment opportunities to all the young people who are qualified. This is has also created a lot of problems. But at the same time, we must also take into account the fact that one of the most important factors for ensuring the sustainability of economic growth is security. Security is extremely prime and indeed a major determining factor as to whether both foreign and even local investors want to actually invest in this country. The local investors, even if their businesses are doing extremely well, if they know they are being threatened from time to time by these organised criminals, they would rather downsize because as they expand their own enterprises, they become targets of extortion and of various crimes. If they have surplus funds, it is used for consumption. Consumption does not contribute to the development of the economy. Foreign investors with substantial resources who will also want to invest in this country would like to know whether their investment is going to be secure. If they think their investment is not going to be secure and that they are going to incur a lot of expenditure just because, for example, of bureaucracy or red tapes, then they are going to wonder whether they are also going to be safe. Are they going to end up being exploited, which, of course, is not the case here? But more important, are they going to spend more money because criminals or organised gangs are there all the time, taking profits so that they cannot work? Then they are not going to invest. I want to appeal to Members of Parliament and this House as well, it is true that we need a reliable and highly motivated Police Force to ensure that the criminals are actually brought to book. Why then do we normally say that our police do not do their work? When something has happened, we condemn them, because they are very visible."
}