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{
    "id": 146306,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/146306/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 258,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mrs. Odhiambo-Mabona",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 376,
        "legal_name": "Millie Grace Akoth Odhiambo Mabona",
        "slug": "millie-odhiambo-mabona"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to laud the Budget for not only realizing the effects of the global crisis, but also the internal crisis that has actually taken us back. As a country, we must work towards reclaiming our lost glory even as we are dealing with the effects of the exogenous shocks. That is why I want to commend the Minister for Finance for saying: “We must now gather courage, adopt a positive spirit and commit ourselves to moving forward.” I hope those are not empty words and that, as a country, we shall be committed to moving forward. Being committed to moving forward will need every single hon. Member of goodwill. It will not require the passing of the buck on the Principals, a common language that we have adopted in this House. Every time there is a problem we say: “The Principals!” We are failing to acknowledge where we, as hon. Members, are failing. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to laud the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance especially for noting that in the years 2002 to 2007, we had laid a foundation that was shaken. But because it is intact, we can now build on it. I want to laud, specifically, the core issues mentioned that would spiral us back on the right path. One of the most important things that I have noted is the issue of regional inequalities that the Budget has sought to address. Unless this country deals with issues of marginalization and regional inequalities, we shall still face the problems that we faced in 2007. Therefore, this is, indeed, a bold step towards bringing peace back into this country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to address the issue of youth and unemployment. I do not think that the youth is an issue in itself, because it is a transitory stage. But the issue that affects the youth is unemployment. That this Budget addresses the issue of unemployment is, indeed, important. But the challenge is that if you actually look at the stimulus plan and other strategies that have been put in place, we must give it a gender face. That is because when you look at some of the strategies that we are putting in place, they exclude women and we would, therefore, be calling on the Minister, perhaps, to work closer with gender experts to help in terms of ways that women can be more involved."
}