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{
"id": 1050022,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1050022/?format=api",
"text_counter": 228,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Kang’ata",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 1826,
"legal_name": "Irungu Kang'ata",
"slug": "irungu-kangata"
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"content": "The producer milk price in Murang‟a is currently about Kshs30 per litre. I have no doubt that if we curb corruption in our county and all other counties, the producer price of milk will be about Kshs60 per litre. It is possible. For instance, if the factory that was mooted by the County Government of Murang‟a for processing milk was operating efficiently, I have no doubt that the common person in Murang‟a would be getting better value for his investment. Madam Temporary Speaker, if we curb corruption, the poor primary school children aged between three and five years, and go to our nurseries and kindergartens that are supported by the county governments, will be eating free food. We would have boosted school enrollment because of that. As a result of a few governors and county officials who have been enriching themselves as captured by this Report, we now have poor children who cannot go to school. When I see street children in Nairobi, and children who cannot get a meal a day, I realize that there is a clear correlation between their not attending school and governors who are stealing billions of shillings and keeping the poor man down. Madam Temporary Speaker, as the Senate, we must rise and fight for well-run counties. This is one of our most important tools that we can use; coming up with a report, which I urge my colleagues to adopt. I urge the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to take action, so that we ensure that these people who have „eaten‟ billions of shillings from our counties are taken to court and jailed. It pains me when I see children who do not go to school because some governors have stolen money. When I see that money is now being used for political purposes, to lure our citizens in politics, it pains me. I know that it is possible to do so within a generation. Singapore was able to move from being a Third World country to a First World country within a generation. In 1978, China was a very poor country, but it is now the second largest economy in the world. When I was born in 1980, China was a very poor country. Last year, they achieved a milestone of wiping off absolute poverty out of China, a country of 1.4 billion people. Why? It is because if you steal a single Yuan in China, they take you to face the gallows. You face the death penalty. I know that that is possible. As leaders, we have a moral duty, to not only lead and ensure that we do not loot public coffers, but also inspire. When people see that leaders are getting ahead through corruption, they will definitely also become corrupt. This House must fight the vice of corruption. Madam Temporary Speaker, I am happy with the drafters of the Constitution, 2010. They ensured that Senators are not interlinked with the Executive. We became very independent, unlike the National Assembly, which has the National Government- Constituencies Development Funds (NG-CDF). We do not have funds. As a result, we have the leverage to conduct oversight without fear or favour. It is now time for us to ensure that this Report is implemented. It is now time that we urge the Executive and various independent offices to implement these reports, so that we have more and more county executives, who face the court and the law. Madam Deputy Speaker, there are several roads that are under the management of the counties that are not done. There are several boreholes, which would have been sunk The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}