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{
"id": 1032994,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1032994/?format=api",
"text_counter": 258,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Laisamis, JP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Marselino Arbelle",
"speaker": {
"id": 13401,
"legal_name": "Marselino Malimo Arbelle",
"slug": "marselino-malimo-arbelle"
},
"content": "In his State of the Nation Address, the President talked about COVID-19, a pandemic which is with us today and which has devastated the whole world. However, it is important for us, as a country, to appreciate that our numbers are not as high as numbers reported in other parts of the world. For instance, in the United States of America (USA) alone, I was listening to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) this morning, and I heard that the numbers are surpassing one million people. Our President was just trying to advise Kenyans. The fact that we are not much informed about the COVID-19 disease, he is encouraging people to at least follow the laid down protocols of washing hands regularly, sanitizing and wearing masks. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the President also said that the future of this country is bright. Indeed, I see the future of this country bright. The problem with Kenyans is that we always keep on complaining without appreciating. We are seeing a lot of infrastructure being developed in the country. For instance, if you happen to drive along Mombasa Road, you will realise that there is a lot of road construction work, but Kenyans are complaining. We are seeing a lot of bypasses which did not exist before and they are there today to decongest the city. We are seeing railway construction. Railway lines which have been abandoned for years have been rehabilitated. You can see railway lines running from Nairobi to Nakuru and Nairobi to Kisumu. The President also mentioned in his Speech that the Lamu Port is now operational. He also spoke about the Likoni Ferry Crossing Point where people used to board ferries which submerged and people died, but now there are floaters everywhere. So, we need to appreciate, as a country, that so much is being undertaken in the country. The President also spoke about the BBI. I am, indeed, one of the advocates of the BBI initiative, which is there to unite Kenyans. I get surprised sometimes when I come across people who are against the BBI when its sole agenda is to bridge gaps and bring communities together to share a table and have a conversation with one another. Having said that, I would like to congratulate our President because, first and foremost, he started his Speech by mentioning the word of God. Let him not even mention anything else. The first page of his Speech states: “O God of all creation, bless this our land and nation, justice be our shield and defender, may we dwell in unity, peace and liberty, plenty be found within our borders.” That is to say that whenever we want to start a conversation, we should start with a word of prayer. We will say, “Bismillah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar.” Therefore, I congratulate our President for being a man of God. May God bless him wherever he is and give him strength to lead this country to prosperity."
}