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{
    "id": 178548,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/178548/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 308,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Eng. Maina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 75,
        "legal_name": "Ephraim Mwangi Maina",
        "slug": "ephraim-maina"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think that this House should, this evening, rethink on a few issues of this nation. This country could be faced with a more security threat than the military we know. When a people go hungry and do not know whether they are going to be there tomorrow, then they are capable of doing anything. It is common to everyone of us that the common man today cannot survive in this country. Let me say that this is an issue because we must be following wrong national policies. This is also an issue because somewhere in our management, we have let cartels and even non-Kenyans to manage our real national security issues. When I say security, I am talking about food. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to remind this House that just after Independence, this country at one time went to beg for food, and yellow maize was imported. The then President, publicly, said: \"I will ensure that my people will never eat yellow maize again.\" I want to tell this House that a policy was put in place and, the following year, The Standard newspaper on the front page read: \"Kenya has a bumper harvest.\" That is true! Since then, Kenya never knew of hunger. That was because the Government came up with something called GMR. The truth of the matter in this country is that farmers are the most underprivileged. This Government does not approach agricultural farming like other countries. They think that there are people who will come with their money to invest in agriculture. It is high time that this country made those decisions and the Government carried them. When should our food be managed by people who do not have Kenya in their hearts? There are people who, the moment there is violence here, they take a plane and fly out of the country. They are the main millers. They are just interested in raising the prices of packets of unga, irrespective of whether or not our people will die. They are after money. This country must reconsider its policies. It must come up with policies that will empower Kenyans. Dr. Mahati is a great leader. He has transformed Malaysia into a great nation in terms of development. Former United States of America (USA) President Roosevelt pulled the USA out of recession by putting American resources in the hands of Americans. We need to address this issue. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, coming back to the current situation in this country, there is no doubt that somebody, somewhere is playing games. He is trying to influence things to happen in his favour. Who is this person that the Government is unable to identify and control him? This means the Government must be implicated. Let us be clear on this matter. Why are some people allowed to go on increasing food prices under the guise of free economy? Free economy does not mean that we do away with our sovereignty and compromise our security. We must protect our security. The Government must come up with appropriate measures to address the current situation. The question of saying that we are following free economy policies should not arise. This only encourages people to go on increasing the prices of commodities. November 26, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3643 Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, things do not just happen. They are caused by some action. There are some people sitting down and designing how to hike food prices. They know either way, it will be bought. However, I want to caution this House that we are playing with a very dangerous situation. For Heaven's sake, how do we expect somebody who earns Kshs100 to feed his four children and wife? How do we expect him tomorrow to go to his place of work? I call upon this House to direct matters affecting our people. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}