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{
    "id": 184970,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/184970/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 252,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mrs. Shabesh",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 377,
        "legal_name": "Rachel Wambui Shebesh",
        "slug": "rachel-shebesh"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I would of course want to start by congratulating the Mover of this Motion, Mr. Mututho, and from the outset, I support this Motion. I would like to clearly state that my reason for supporting this Motion is mostly because I would like to debunk this myth that exists in this country that land is the most crucial issue and that without solving it, we will never solve the problems of this country. During the beginning of this year when we witnessed the post-election crisis and subsequently during the consultations that have gone on, the issue of land continues to be what is considered by most Kenyans and even the Government, as the most crucial issue to address. My understanding of it has always been that it is because of lack of recognition of the Mau Mau and the freedom fighters on this issue of land that it continues to bog us down and to be looked at as the key issue. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I really believe that it is because the previous Governments, including the present Grand Coalition Government, have refused to address the issue of compensation for the freedom fighters of this country, through generations, that the issue has been looked at as the one that continues to bring problems today. I thank Mr. Mututho for bringing this Motion because, for me, if we deal with this issue we will put to rest issues of land bringing historical injustices. That way, we can look at the real issues that are now affecting us in Kenya which are really about ethnicity and the poor versus the rich. Land is a historical issue that we can put to rest. When we look at the issue of unlawful groups that we have in this country; the young people who are taking up all sorts of unlawful activities, they are also using the issue of land but let the truth be told that these young men and women simply do not have jobs. Since they know that there has always been historical injustice of land, they continue to use land as if that is the excuse. We know very well that the reason why we have problems with youth in this country is because the Government has not put in place a mechanism to create jobs for the them. So, we cannot keep on using this issue of land as an excuse and that is why I stand up today to say that I support this Motion because it must put to rest the issue of land. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, if we want to solve the issue of land, let us be bold. For the people who own large tracts of land in this country and who sit in the Government, we must come out boldly as a Parliament and hold to account the Government where most of these people sit. If we want to solve the problem of historical injustices, let us bring on board those who have land that they do not use and those who have been disposed of land. Let us solve that issue, put it to rest and then look at the critical issues in this day and age that are now affecting this country. I support this Motion and again I congratulate Mr. Mututho for bringing it to this House."
}