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{
    "id": 1200714,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1200714/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 117,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ugenya, MDG",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. David Ochieng’",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2955,
        "legal_name": "David Ouma Ochieng'",
        "slug": "david-ouma-ochieng"
    },
    "content": "I want to thank the people of Ugenya for profusely having faith in me as the person who is most able to champion their agenda, wishes, aspirations and needs at the national level in this Parliament. We are here to discuss the Speech given by the President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency William Samoei Ruto on 29th September 2022. There are things we take for granted. Some people think that they just happen. We must thank Kenyans for being peaceful, civil and mature democratically. You will appreciate the fact that our democracy is growing and maturing if you see what happens in our neighbouring countries. A time will come when elections will just be a matter of course, and will not cause jitters and panic in the country. If you looked at status of the economy before the elections and now, and if you remember what we went through during the elections, you will appreciate the fact that the President recognizes that we have come far in our democracy, which is very important. The fact that our democracy is maturing should not be taken for granted. We must continue nurturing it. The President has promised to run an accountable, open and transparent Government. As the National Assembly, we must encourage him to do so. Those of us in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, will ensure that the President carries out his role in a manner that follows the law. As someone said earlier, our President is not averse to criticism. He does not want us to be a choir in this Assembly. He has said that he does not have monopoly of knowledge. He wants to share the views of the people of this country and Parliament to ensure that what the country needs gets into his thinking and interacts with his thoughts. He has said that this Parliament should not be timid and sit back but should oversee his Government accordingly. I want to invite all of us to give the President the challenge and ensure that he runs a Government that responds to the needs of the people. Second and most important is the place of education in the growth of our economy. The hustler nation does not mean that we throw out education and anything goes. The hustler nation means that everybody who has a chance and wants to get an education, who wants to get his or her papers right or who wants to grow by ensuring that his or her children accesses the best quality education in this country, is able to get it. The President wants to run a country based on merit. So, I ask all of us not to give up on education. It is a key thing. That is why when I hear the courts rule that anybody can run for governor or Member of Parliament, and that education does not matter, I feel that we are sending the wrong signals. I ask all of us to ensure that wherever we come from, education is the only equaliser to anything in this world. If you did not go to school, you will not end up anywhere. Investing in education is something that we must keep talking about so as to ensure that we are led by the best as a country. The former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, said that you must be led by the best in your midst and those who know what is required in the country. The President talked about investing in agriculture. Our country is agriculture-based. As a people, we must ensure that we become food secure. How do we do so? We must invest at the lowest levels of the economy. Everyone who wants to farm should be able to access quality and affordable seeds, whether they are avocados, cotton, maize, millet or potatoes, as well as fertilisers. Let us ensure that everybody who is willing to use his or her energy to benefit and earn a living in this country is supported. That is why we will ensure that this Parliament sorts out the supply and demand constraints on agriculture. Let us ensure that our people are taught. Let us bring back the service officers that used to help us in agriculture. Let us ensure that our people know the modern methods of farming, cooling milk and that our farm produce does not go to waste because we do not have storage facilities. Irrigation is very important for food security and stability. The failure of Galana-Kulalu is very fresh in our minds. The failure of dams is very fresh in our minds. As an Assembly, we will ensure that there is money set aside for irrigation to ensure that our people become food 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."
}