Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 184441,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/184441/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 180,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mrs. Shebesh",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 377,
        "legal_name": "Rachel Wambui Shebesh",
        "slug": "rachel-shebesh"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker. As I stand to contribute on the Vote of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Local Government, I want to start by expressing my relief that this is not a budget that has been crafted under the able leadership of our Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government because to me, it is not only a mockery of the Ministry of Local Government and its seriousness to this country but also injustice. It is something that we must look at critically if we are really going to make a difference. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the names \"Local Government\" mean that this is the government at the grassroots level. If the Local Government is not going to deliver, the National Government cannot deliver. For a long time, we have taken for granted the Ministry of Local Government because in structures, we look at it as a body that is represented by councillors and maybe people who we feel are not adequate. I think this is where the problem starts. The problem begins because we do not appreciate the councillors and the structures at the Local Government as being sound structures that we can use to deliver services to the people. In this country, we have believed for too long that only structures that come from the National Government are those that we can access and trust. For me, then there is no need to have the structures at the Local 2690 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES October 14, 2008 Government if we do not trust these structures at the National Government. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, as I look at the allocation for Nairobi, the first allocation that I see that is for building primary schools shocks me because we have over Kshs700 million going towards construction of Nairobi schools. Where will these schools be built? If it is the same schools that exist, why would we want to construct more classes in schools that have empty classes? In case the Minister is not aware, I would be willing to take him around Nairobi schools where there are empty classes simply because we do not have teachers. Schools are forced to bring their students into one class. In most Nairobi City Council (NCC) schools, there are three or four empty classes full of broken benches and desks. This is something I have witnessed. Now, if today Kshs700 million is released in Nairobi for building schools which is more than any Member of Parliament is getting for CDF, really we have opened a den of corruption. I see nothing else except a source for some people somewhere to make a lot of money. There is no way you can convince me that you are going to build new schools in Nairobi when we already have the kind of problems we are having in Nairobi. For me, that is so critical that we cannot allow it to go scot-free. We could use this Kshs700 million to do more positive things like creating jobs for young people rather than to go into something called building schools for Nairobi, when we already know the kind of problems we are having. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is important that this Ministry tells us what its role is"
}