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{
    "id": 137546,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/137546/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 598,
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    "content": "it. I, therefore, think that the need has been realized. What now remains is to provide resources. We need to provide resources so that Kenyans can begin to get value for money. Right now Kenya trades with Ethiopia to the tune of Kshs3 billion. If the road network was opened from Eastern Province all the way to Moyale, income from trade would shoot to Kshs17 billion. That is the return that we would get in the country’s economy. Therefore, we are not investing in vain. We are investing knowing that the return is five times what we are achieving today. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the livestock industry does not exist, yet the tool of trade in northern Kenya is livestock. We do not have a single abattoir from Moyale all the way to Turkana and down to Mandera. This is the situation, yet we are supposed to improve the livelihood of the people in these places. I am sure many of our leaders have confirmed their willingness to invest and find donors for this part of the country. However, it has never been concrete so that it can be included in the Budget. Politically speaking, the entire Membership of the House and the political leadership in this country has realized the necessity to develop but we require the Minister for Finance to factor this in the Budget. It has been suggested that if we develop the livestock industry, 2.5 million Kenyans will find jobs on a daily basis. Those who would get informal jobs would also be about 3 million. Therefore, we can provide resources for 5 million to 6 million Kenyans who live in that part of the country. If that project is that viable, what is Kshs30 billion? We want to develop a country called Kenya. We want to integrate it properly. We want to make sure that all Kenyans can travel and own property anywhere in this country. We cannot, however, live or own property where returns are low. Returns are low if we do not invest. Therefore, I am saying that we must invest. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Moyale and Marsabit have huge potential for agriculture. If you go to Marsabit, you will think you are in Limuru. Therefore, we need to see whether we can invest in agriculture in this part of the country. If we put in money and irrigate the land, I swear, we will never import food. I know the Vice- President and Minister for Home Affairs and Mr. Wamalwa have travelled by road from Isiolo to Moyale and Moyale to Sololo. I know they appreciate the dilemma in which we are in. We need people to travel in order to understand the beauty of Kenya. The only way we can factor in the Budget some money is when we travel out. That is why I said in another Motion that we must have rotational Sittings of the House. This will make us appreciate that this country has more than we can ever imagine. We will appreciate that we do not need to import food because this country can feed us. We also do not need to import “education” because this country can educate us if we invest positively. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, if you visit Marsabit District, you will think that you are in Limuru. It experiences climatic conditions that are exactly the same as those in Central Kenya. However, it lacks commitment in terms of resources in order to produce food so that we do not import food like we are doing now. We spend nearly Kshs10 billion to Kshs15 billion to feed Kenyans, whereas if we invested only Kshs30 billion annually for ten years, we would feed this country and export surplus food to the neighbouring countries and even beyond. Water is plenty in northern Kenya. It only requires investment as the hon. Member has said. If the Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid"
}