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{
    "id": 1473065,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1473065/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 156,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Oburu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 194,
        "legal_name": "Oburu Ngona Odinga",
        "slug": "oburu-odinga"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I want to comment on the Statement sought by Sen. Chute regarding the northern region of our country. The marginalisation of these areas started right from Independence. At Independence, there was a Sessional Paper of 1965 which clearly stated that investments in the development of our country will be based on the highest return per shilling. This was intended to only develop areas with high potential, agriculturally viable. It marginalized the North Eastern region which did not look viable. However, the soil there is very fertile. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, rivers pass through there. There are potentials in the mineral resources underneath. The area has so many animals there, we should establish proper slaughterhouses so that we can export meat. Botswana is a dry country, but they are very rich because they are exporting their meat to Middle Eastern countries. Therefore, the committee must investigate this properly. We must find ways and means of empowering the people of the northern region. There was no investment at all until a few years ago when all these organizations on drought and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) ministries were being established. These are a small drop in the ocean because they were ignored for many years. There were no roads, no dams and no electricity. Up to now, big cities are still using generators to get power. We should increase efforts to make sure that we also benefit from this very rich region, which has a lot of resources, both underneath and on very rich soils. We need to establish dams, good roads and electricity so that the resources there can be exploited and there should be no poverty there. I support the statement sought by hon. Chute. Let the committee investigate properly. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}