Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 184213,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/184213/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 199,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Mbugua",
    "speaker_title": "The Member for Kamukunji",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 386,
        "legal_name": "Simon Ng'ang'a Mbugua",
        "slug": "simon-mbugua"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I thank the people of Kamukunji for electing me into this House to be their representative and I look forward to working for them with diligence and dignity so that at least they can see a developed Kamukunji in the years to come. Allow me, with your indulgence and patience, just to give a history of Kamukunji. Kamukunji is situated in Nairobi North District and I must say it is a very historical constituency because if you look at all the important people in this country, from President Jomo Kenyatta, Tom Mboya and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, you will notice that they all lived in my constituency. I must say that the struggle for democracy started in my constituency. You will remember very well that the repealing of Section 2(A) started in Kamukunji. So, it is a historical constituency and one that has been neglected over the years. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, touching on various subjects starting from health, my constituency has problems of health facilities. All our dispensaries have gone down to waste because they have become mere centres for first aid rather than treatment facilities. It is in this view that I would like to ask the hon. Members of this House to help my constituency by training our people because this area has been neglected. You will realise that we have four health centres in Kamukunji and all of them are not operational. I would also like to touch on the infrastructure of this constituency. Roads in this constituency, since the infamous El Nino rains, have never been allocated funds for repair. It is a pity to note that a constituency which contributes about 55 per cent of the Value Added Tax (VAT) in this country has been neglected in such a pathetic way. I am planning, in the next coming month, to mobilise my people not to pay taxes in order for the Government to realise that we need development in this constituency. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I want to mention one contractor who was given a contract five years ago to repair one of the roads in Eastleigh. This contractor is called Nyoro Construction Company. It has failed to deliver as per the terms of the contract which was given five years ago. This road in Eastleigh has continued being dilapidated and my people have continued to suffer as a consequence of giving work to a contractor who has not been performing. It is also worth noting that youth and women are very important groups in our society and in Kamukunji. However, because of the development of the informal areas, you will find that there are a lot of unemployed youth. So, the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) is one of the major developments that we have in my constituency and it is an initiative which was wisely thought by the Government. So, I am looking forward to the Government doubling this fund because the Kshs50,000 currently given to women and youth is not enough for them to start and also continue with businesses. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is unfortunate we continue to enjoy as our people continue to languish in cold nights and poverty. About 84,000 families are suffering in the Rift 2780 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES October 15, 2008 Valley Province as we continue with our lives every day without thinking about them. It is high time that we thought about these people who are suffering. They are our brothers and sisters and whatever happened to them is as a result of tribalism which the Prime Minister, hon. Raila, has just spoken about just now. This is a vice that we need to eradicate so that we can continue developing as a country. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, our food prices have gone up and it is my view that these prices should be brought down considerably, especially maize because it is the staple food for most Kenyans. In fact, most Kenyans cannot even afford a packet of maize flour. I would like to end my speech because I have seen the yellow light."
}