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{
    "id": 147588,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/147588/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 358,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. M’Mithiaru",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 72,
        "legal_name": "Ntoitha M'mithiaru",
        "slug": "ntoitha-mmithiaru"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker. I stand to support this Motion. When we talk about Parliament we are not referring to the building; we are referring to hon. Members who represent Kenyans. Sometimes, in Parliament, we stay in our own cocoons. We always carry old skins which we should be able to shed now. We must embrace change. Change has already started. A year ago the parliamentary proceedings were not live. Now they are. The reason for this is for Parliament to open up, so that Kenyans can know exactly what business is discussed in Parliament because many did not know. Part of that opening up can be demonstrated if Parliament could have sittings within our regions. If we do so, we will be telling Kenyans that these are their MPs and this is what Parliament stands for. People will then come to appreciate more what Parliament really does. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I have had a chance of touring quite a bit of Kenya because of the job I used to do. I discovered how beautiful our country is. I can even take my family to the Rift Valley, Western Kenya, Coast provinces, among other places, because I already know those parts of the country have got these beautiful sites for people to see. Many of us may not have had that opportunity. We even graduated from schools which were located in our communities, came to Nairobi to attend university, did some jobs and then came to Parliament. We have to open up so that we know our country. This will ensure that when issues are brought before the House, we know exactly what kind of inequalities we have in the country. I heard Mr. Wamalwa say how he has visited Moyale; I have not been there! We have heard of some beautiful hills in Marsabit. We have heard that there have been plane crashes there. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is time that parliamentarians knew their country so that even when they are making their contributions, they will know exactly what they are talking about. When they are told about the skewed development in certain areas, they will understand exactly what we are talking about. We know our country has got limited resources which must be properly harnessed. It is only we, Members of Parliament, who can articulate this more. There are areas where there is abject poverty. This must be eradicated. When we support budgetary allocations for a certain area and we know the poverty levels there, then we support them. Members of Parliament should know what kind of development is taking place in our country. We will also be able to take on the Government, so that they will be able to achieve"
}