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{
    "id": 1243766,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1243766/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 185,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Okiya Omtatah",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Other than the international fame about its prehistoric relevance to the history of mankind, Turkana County made headlines in the USA when none other Ben Carson claimed that his ancestors came from Turkana. It shows how important this part of the world is. Therefore, we should give it the recognition it deserves. As the Senator for Busia, Busia County has got a special relationship with Turkana County. There is a part of Busia whereby if a Turkana speaks in Kiturkana and a Teso speaks in Ateso. They do not need a translator. They understand each other the way a Luhya of Busia understands a Luhya of Kakamega. So, there is that close relation. It is recorded that the Turkana are part of what is called the Ateker Nation which includes the Karamoja, the Iteso, the Toposa and many other groups in that region. It is a big pastoralist economy that needs a lot of support from the state. Turkana County epitomizes one thing that I hold dear to my heart in terms of political philosophy. As a believer in the primacy of political action over the market in a political entity, Turkana is one area whereby if market forces are left to determine what happens, they will never get out of the challenges they face. It is only the state that can bring that water to the surface, clean it and then tell the market to do what it wants to do with that water. That is the primacy of political action. I am happy that we have made a political decision to go to Turkana because it underscores that this state must consciously intervene and give people the capacity to realise their potential. Another connection between Busia and Turkana is that both counties produce a lot of fish. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Congolese are addicted to Tilapia from Lake Turkana. Every day, tonnes and tonnes of fish flow through Busia into the Congo. Unfortunately, there is no infrastructure for benefiting Turkana County from the fish. There is no infrastructure for the people of Busia County to benefit from hosting the point at which the fish is then traded with the traders from the Congo."
}