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"speaker_name": "Mr. Abdirahman",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I stand to support this Motion of Adjournment. Like my colleagues, I will start by recognising the role that Parliament has taken in the last few days with regard to the issues that relate to Constitution-making. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I appreciate that, as part of Parliament today, we are able to develop a common understanding on issues that affect Kenyans. Parliament as an institution has, time and again, been villified for failing to address the plight of Kenyans. I think what has been demonstrated in the last few days will definitely reflect a good image on our part, as people who form the leadership in this country. But it is also important that we develop a common vision as the leadership of this country, so that we can set a clear road map, not only for the Constitution-making process but for also overall development. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on development, many of us have a lot of feelings that there has not been adequate resources allocated to areas as there is disparity, particularly in certain regions, in terms of resource distribution. This is why a number of us still feel today that successive governments have failed to address core issues of development in some parts of this country, particularly in nothern Kenya. Key sectors like education and health have lots of gaps as we speak. Just today, I got a message from one of my constituents that the main district hospital--- We now have four districts from the greater Wajir District. But our original district headquarters, the Wajir District Hospital, does not have one single medical doctor. That particular constituent described the situation as catastrophic. That was the statement I got on my phone. You will imagine that although we have a shortage of doctors in this country, if this Government can prioritise these areas as areas that are really desperately in need of help, I am sure that we will 4212 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES December 17, 2008 develop Kenya equally. On infrastructural development, time and again, I thought that under the wise leadership of President Kibaki, the road between Garissa and Mandera would have been done by now. I know other roads were prioritised, but only a 20-kilometre stretch had allocation of funds during the 2007/2008 Financial Year. To date, we do not have a clear source of funding, whether it is from a donor or the Government itself to address the problem of that road. What we need to develop that region, and other disadvantaged parts of this country, is the political goodwill, which is not there today. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I will leave that bit on development and talk a little on the Constitution-making process. As much as we have today established the Parliamentary Select Committee, we will expect to see as we progress an all inclusive process. In the past people said that Wanjiku had spoken. But as much as she had spoken, the people who stole the mantle were the political elite. I think the political class should allow Wanjiku now to talk. She has already talked and I hope that all that she told us in relation to land, power, responsibilities and development is going to appear in certain constitutions. Even within East Africa, the marginalised groups are clearly advocated for in some constitutions. We would like to see that addressed in the new Constitution."
}