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{
    "id": 1316283,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1316283/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 235,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Garissa Township, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Dekow Mohamed",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you. I want to congratulate, commend and appreciate the Report by the Committee on Regional Integration, led by Hon. Muhia for the good work they have done. Hon. Temporary Speaker, the importance of integration in the region cannot be underscored. Trade is a major area we can take advantage of as a country. This is because Kenya has a competitive advantage over other countries in the region in terms of the developed infrastructure. We have the Port of Mombasa, Mombasa-Malaba Road, Nairobi-Moyale Road, airports and a railway system. As a country, we must make use of what we already have as a competitive advantage against other countries in the region, like the Port of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. It is very important that we protect the Northern Corridor from Mombasa to Malaba all the way to Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan. We have a population of almost 500 million people in the East African region, if we add Somalia and Ethiopia. As the economic hub or power base of the region, Kenya must take advantage of what it has. Hon. Temporary Speaker, one of the recommendations of the Report is the removal of trade barriers in this area; one of them being road blocks that are a hindrance to free movement of people, goods and services within the region. As it is, we have a problem and I want to ask the Committee to look into it and see whether they can open up the northern part of this country, that is, the border post of Somalia with Mandera and Liboi, which is one of the very important areas. As you know very well, Ethiopia imports most of its goods through the Port of Djibouti. We are building the Lamu Port, South Sudan and Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor project. If we do not remove all barriers that hinder trade and co-operation within the region, we will lose to our competitors like Tanzania and the Port of Djibouti. Some of those ports and road networks are not developed like ours. So, removal of barriers is very important. We have a road between Garissa and Liboi Border Post of about 200 kilometres. If we improve that infrastructure, this country will be able to trade with areas like Somalia and Ethiopia. On the issue of road blocks that are put up by police officers on the roads, I heard the Cabinet Secretary saying that they will be removed by November, but up to now, they are still there. For example, in my county, there is a bridge between Garissa and Tana River. One side is manned by police officers from North Eastern or Garissa County and the other side is manned by police officers from the Coast region or Tana River County. For a bridge which is 20 metres, you are asked where you are going on one side and where you are coming from on the other side. You find a distance of 20 metres with two different police officers from two different regional commanders. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support this Report and I urge the Committee to follow-up its implementation. Thank you."
}