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{
    "id": 175438,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/175438/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 222,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kamama",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 165,
        "legal_name": "Asman Abongutum Kamama",
        "slug": "asman-kamama"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker. I would like to thank the hon. Member for Karatina for bringing forth this very important Motion at this point in time in the history of this country. I support this Motion on condition that it is going to be implemented as a short-term strategy. This is because you cannot subsidise forever. You have to come in when people are suffering the way Kenyans are suffering at the moment. The Maslow hierarchy of needs theory dictates that food, shelter and clothing are very basic to a human being. So, if you cannot afford the three of them, then it means that you are living in a situation that is unfathomable. I, therefore, support the Motion, but it should be implemented as a short-term strategy just like it was done in the USA during the bailout when Americans experienced a financial crunch. According to the poverty indices, pastoral areas have been found to be the poorest like Turkana District, where some constituencies registered poverty levels of between 96 per cent and 98 per cent. The people are almost dying in such places because they cannot afford the basic commodities. They cannot afford to buy unga, milk, cooking fat and bread, which is a luxury because there are no bakeries in those areas. I want this Motion implemented for, at least, six months until the country recovers. We have to encourage Kenyans to work. The culture of production must be inculcated amongst Kenyans. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I would like to agree to the fact that getting three meals a day is a luxury to Kenyans. I want to confirm to you that most Nairobians cannot afford lunch. In fact, they go to Jeevanjee Gardens or Uhuru Park, just to listen to the word of God and get blessings. They cannot afford this. Most Nairobians can only afford two meals a day. We need this subsidy like yesterday, so that Kenyans can lead a better life. One may argue that regulating prices goes against the basic principles of a free market economy. Ours is a mixed one. It is not 100 per cent a free market. I would like the Government to chip in. The hon. Member should move with speed to come up with a Bill so that it is enacted into law and the Government is obliged to implement it. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I support the Motion. In our Budget, we have a component on contingencies. I do not know what that money does. We should marshall all our resources, including money meant for emergencies to cushion our people who are suffering at the moment. Otherwise, let us go the USA way. We need to implement this as a bailout. We know that Kenyans are suffering. You all remember when the right hon. Prime Minister was addressing his residents in Kibera, people were shouting, \"Unga!\" because that is what is so close to their hearts. I support this Motion and want it implemented as a matter of urgency. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}