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{
    "id": 188720,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/188720/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 159,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr. Wekesa",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Forestry and Wildlife",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 209,
        "legal_name": "Noah Mahalang'ang'a Wekesa",
        "slug": "noah-wekesa"
    },
    "content": "July 22, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1975 Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have so many landless people in Kenya. Sometimes I am amazed when some of my colleagues talk about \"my people\". We have been charged with the responsibility of representing Kenyans. I think it is incumbent upon every one of us to recognise that we will never have enough land to give to our people. As we talk about Kenyans getting land, let us think of everybody. People at the Coast do not have land. People in North Eastern Province have nowhere to plant grass for their livestock. People in former settlement areas; Trans Nzoia and others, do not have land but they obey the law. They do not move into forests and national parks. I think we want to create a culture where Kenyans can respect the law because we will never have enough land to give to all people. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Minister pointed out the fact that last year Kshs1.3 billion was voted to settle squatters and the landless. I was amazed to find out that Kshs1.2 billion out of the Kshs1.3 billion went to one individual in Laikipia. Land was purchased from one individual when some of the money could have been used to buy land at the Coast or Trans Nzoia where there are many landless people. When money like this is allocated, we must ensure that it is spend throughout the country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we know that we had post-election violence and there is a feeling that this was one of the reasons why people invaded land, particularly in Mau Forest and other areas. In Trans Nzoia, we have had such a situation ever since 1992. People have always used shortage of land as an excuse to cause violence. We must find a solution through this new draft policy to ensure that we settle the historical injustices once and for all. As we do that, we should look at the whole country. We should not talk about, say, my people in Trans Nzoia, Mau Forest and so on. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you are aware that in Zimbabwe, land has been an issue between the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the ruling party. The recent developments in Zimbabwe is something that we should be proud of. Those of us who believe in a coalition government, we hope that the issues in Zimbabwe will now come to an end. I commend President Mugabe for what he has done."
}