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"id": 193125,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Mwaura",
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"legal_name": "David Njuguna Kiburi Mwaura",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I stand to support the Minister for June 18, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1211 Finance for ably presenting the Budget Speech, I would like to highlight one or two points. The first one concerns the modernization of the Port of Mombasa. The Minister raised the issue of a free port. This is a very noble idea and if implemented, it will be the first Free Port in East Africa and also on the continent of Africa. Therefore, to make the idea a success, I propose that this project be made a joint venture between the Government, the private sector and local investors. We are aware of what has been going on in this nation. The private sector has been doing so well compared to Government parastatals. We have various examples of people doing well such as the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), Mr. Martin Oduor, who has displayed exemplary performance. As a result of good performance in their work, various benefits have reached the investors. Therefore, this noble idea of a free port should be made a reality. It should be a Kenyan free port, where all stakeholders are involved. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other issue concerns the delays that we experience at the Port of Mombasa. Cargo handling has been of great concern to the traders in this nation. It has caused some frustration to other East African countries like Uganda, because their goods have been delayed for almost a month. This has, in some way, frustrated their economy. Cargo handling should be improved to enhance our economic performance and contain the issue of diversion of trade to Dar-es-Salaam by Uganda and other neighbouring countries. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the issue of employment at the Port of Mombasa has not been very good. The entire port should be accountable in order to make it beneficial to the entire population of our country. Time and again, there have been reports of theft at the port. Imported motor vehicles have often disappeared from the port. This has created lack of confidence in the port of Mombasa by the trading community in the region. The issue of tenders has also been of great concern. The people charged with this responsibility have not executed their duties in the best way possible. This has resulted in lack of accountability. The security at the port is also a mess, because many ships have been diverted by pirates and a lot of goods have been taken elsewhere. This is a very serious development. The Kenyan market share has also been diverted to other areas. This should be given a lot of attention as we embark on the issue of developing a free port. We, therefore, need a very effective and efficient free port. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the issue of introduction of a sports fund in the constituencies, the money allocated by the Minister is inadequate. The Minister should have raised the allocation from Kshs1 million to Kshs2million. Doing so would have enabled engagement of sports officers who would be in charge of sporting activities in every constituency. We should not just focus on one activity, mainly soccer; we should also introduce other sports such as athletics, netball and so on. By involving more youth in those sporting activities, we will be giving them better service. We will also expose them and enable them to improve their talents and compete for the nation. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the issue of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF), we did not hear the Minister talk about a men's fund. This is another area that needs to be given a lot of attention. On agriculture, the Minister did not create room for the old debts that have continued to affect farming in this nation. The Pyrethrum Board of Kenya (PBK) has not paid pyrethrum farmers over Kshs200 million. That money should have been set aside for the farmers to access, so that they can inject it into their farming. Nothing has been set aside for the wheat farmers, whose crop has been affected by army worms. I do not see how we are going to improve farming if we have forgotten this very important sector. On the issue of establishing a fertilizer factory, this is a very important issue, which should 1212 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 18, 2008 be given due attention and implemented. On the education sector, we have noted that many schools have problems; schools are being burnt down and books destroyed. Teachers are facing a very hostile environment. A committee should be formed to look into these issues, this being the second term when the students are gearing up to write their examinations. If the situation is not addressed, the performance of our schools at the end of the year will be badly affected. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the issue of air transport, we have had the experience of matatus grounding the whole nation when they are being inspected. Why not take time to inspect planes that fly around very important personalities to make sure they are suitable to fly hon. Members and other dignitaries? We should have those inspections done regularly, and allow flying of only those planes that pass the inspection test. If we allow the situation to continue, we will continue to bury very innocent personalities, because of our failure to implement inspection schedules in a timely manner. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. I beg to support."
}