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{
    "id": 1501317,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1501317/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 47,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "His Excellency the President",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 168,
        "legal_name": "Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta",
        "slug": "uhuru-kenyatta"
    },
    "content": "Consequently, our democracy has empowered citizens to ask questions and demand changes in the way their affairs are managed, driving the wheels of our nation's social, political and economic transformation faster in the direction of excellence and prosperity. Rare are the times when the leadership is ahead of the people. We are always striving to steer the machinery of the state and Government to keep pace with the aspirations of our citizens. We have learnt through the hard way as well as the more customary ways, that listening is a full- time occupation of leadership and that all questions asked by the people must be answered thoroughly and in full. We have learnt never to take anything for granted and make every effort to call all our people and to carry all our people along with us in the pursuit of our transformation. The context in which I make this National Address is not only significantly different from previous occasions, but it is also a singular moment with unique historical implications for us all. It is an opportunity to affirm the principles and values of which our nation stands, review the steps we have taken, the path we have chosen in our journey of national development and reinforce the commitments we have made to one another and to our beloved nation for the sake of the present and future generations. I do not take this for granted and with utmost respect and humility before this august Assembly of the people's elected representatives; I desire to respond to the most pressing concerns that have been raised by Kenyans of all walks of life in recent months. To my understanding, the concerns and issues voiced by millions of Kenyans about the state of our nation deserve meaningful engagement, a thorough understanding and a thoughtful response. There are discussions about whether leaders understand the pain, hardship and struggles endured by countless citizens every day as they strive to make ends meet and whether the Government is doing anything about it. Similarly, many struggling Kenyans impatiently wonder when will real money get to their pockets and when will the jobs promised, which they deserve become a reality. Additionally, there have been conversations about our education system, particularly the transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and whether policies in this sector are working for or against Kenyans. Important questions have also been raised concerning the direction of development in relation to democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as the rule of law, transparency and accountability. Another more direct question that emerges every now and then is whether public policy in this administration is in furtherance of service delivery to citizens or just in aid of political strategy. It is undeniable that for many Kenyans, times are hard and the struggle to meet their daily basic needs remains daunting. It is also true that these conditions have persisted for a number of years now leading to much frustration and anxiety. Although we have gone a long way to mitigate some of these difficulties, much remains to be done. Though we have laid a firm foundation for decisive intervention, I believe that it is critical for us to bear in mind that this administration was inaugurated at an extremely difficult time characterized by domestic challenges, compounded by regional and global security, geopolitical, financial as well as climate dynamics. As a result, in 2022, the country's total debt burden was not only immense, but was also stacked up in the most burdensome manner, leaving very little room for investments in public service or development of critical infrastructure. The prices of basic food commodities soared"
}