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{
"id": 1152833,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1152833/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kipipiri, JP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Amos Kimunya",
"speaker": {
"id": 174,
"legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
"slug": "amos-kimunya"
},
"content": "late retired President’s long and uninterrupted service in this House, his selfless service to the republic, exemplary accomplishments for the country, his role in shepherding Kenya into a new constitutional dispensation in 2010, and for his patriotism and role in promoting socio-economic growth and development of the Republic of Kenya and the East African Region. Let me, on my behalf, on behalf of my family and the people of Kipipiri, start by sending my deep heartfelt condolences to the family and all Kenyans on the passing on of our beloved hero, the late Hon. Emilio Mwai Kibaki. History is more than the path left by the past. It shifts the present and has immense potential to influence the future. These words were said by the former Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, when he recounted the steps in history that the House had taken since the 10th Century. Today, we have a singular honour and opportunity to record the tributes of this august House in honour of a giant of history, His Excellency President Mwai Kibaki. In the words of President Obama, I wish to observe that it is hard to eulogise any man. It is hard to capture in words not just the facts and the deeds that make life, but the essential truths of a person; the private joys, the sorrows, quiet moments and the qualities that illuminates ones’ soul. How much harder to do so for a giant of history, whose legacy is not only our cherished constitutional democracy, but the many aspects that form our social and economic struggles of our nation and some of which you have enumerated and some of which are flowing from the public as we talk about the great man? Hon. Speaker, like other giants of history before him, His Excellency Mwai Kibaki came from a very simple family. He was the last born child of humble peasant farmers and he would, as expected, have spent his early childhood assisting his parents to carry out the normal family chores as a herds’ boy including ferrying tobacco from Othaya through the Aberdares Mountain all the way through Naivasha and eventually to Ndunyu Njeru, when he was a young boy. This did not deter him from rising to serve his country in the highest office in the land. I do not want to go through his education because it has already been covered. As I stand before this House to mourn and pay tribute to my political mentor, the late President was a great economist and a leader to which this country owes a great deal of gratitude. He served in various capacities and left formidable changes wherever he went. As you have mentioned, he started off as an assistant minister, then he was appointed a full minister in 1969 to 1978 and then moved on to become a Vice-President. During that time, Kenya saw unprecedented growth. I have read a few of his budget speeches, which I have here and I would like to share, and the Parliament Library has quite a good collection. Looking at what was happening in the 1970’s, I would like to quote what he said in the Budget of 1970. “Given the short fall in revenue available to the Exchequer at the time and the existing tax rates and our recent heavy reliance on the banking system, I should have reduced the level of development spending in the 1976/1977 Budget in order to keep our books in balance. I am, however, reluctant to do this particularly if it delays the restructuring of our economy and its recovery from the recent recession”. He went on to say that: “Domestic long-term borrowing achieved a new peak this year. I am, however, concerned that in the recent years, the only significant subscriber to Government stocks has been the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and that other financial institutions such as insurance companies have invested their surplus funds in property or left them as deposits in banks. I encourage that a greater part of these funds must be drawn into the development effort The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}