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"id": 197280,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/197280/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. M. Mohamud",
"speaker_title": "The Member for Mandera West",
"speaker": {
"id": 373,
"legal_name": "Mohammed Maalim Mahamud",
"slug": "mohammed-mahamud"
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"content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, my name is Mohamed Mahamud Maalim, Member of Parliament for Mandera West. From the outset, I would like to congratulate the constituents of Mandera West for electing me to Parliament for the first time and giving me the opportunity to serve the nation in this capacity. I would also like to thank my other colleagues, both new and old, for having made it to Parliament. Since this is the first time for me to have the Floor, I would like to also congratulate you for being elected the Speaker of this Tenth Parliament. I would like to commend the President for the excellent Speech he delivered here during the opening of Parliament. I would also like to thank him and Mr. Raila, Prime Minister designate for their visionary leadership and signing the National Peace Accord which has brought peace to this country. We are all aware that this country has just emerged from one of the darkest periods in its history. The leadership that the two leaders showed by signing the National Peace Accord has done a lot to bring peace to this country. I would, therefore, like to thank them again. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this Parliament also did wonders yesterday by passing the Bills that were brought before it. By passing those Bills, we have set the agenda for the broad reforms that we need to initiate in this Tenth Parliament, especially having a new Constitution within 12 months as stated in the agreement. Having a new Constitution is a priority for this Parliament and the sooner it embarks on that agenda, the better. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I think we have learnt alot from all what happened in the last 18 years when we have been looking for a new Constitution. We can now avoid those pitfalls and move forward. As we go ahead to establish the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, Kenya will be forced to face one of the harshest realities in its history. It is true that there have been a lot of March 19, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 271 injustices and inequalities in this country. When that Commission is formed, Kenyans should come forward and honestly face the truth and establish \"when the rain began to beat us.\" This Parliament, of course, has the responsibility to guide that process properly so that whatever is brought forward can be enacted or corrected accordingly. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Speech by the President touched on many issues, but this time round, it did not touch on what is happening in the northern part of Kenya. Of course, in the Ninth Parliament, His Excellency the President talked a great deal about the plight of the people of northern Kenya. Understandably, because of the crisis we are in today, this time he did not touch on that. However, my speech will not be complete if I do not talk about the plight of the people of northern Kenya, that is, North Eastern Province, upper Eastern Province and parts of Rift Valley Province. The challenges that face that area cannot be understood by the rest of Kenyans. The region presents the greatest challenge to any Government in Kenya. I think it is time we took a step to see how we can deal with those challenges. The greatest challenge has been the apparent failure by successive Governments to understand the character and aspirations of that region. It is, therefore, time that this Tenth Parliament put in place policies that will address those challenges and deal with those problems. Members of Parliament from the region will come together and come up with draft policies which we will want to be supported by everybody. Lastly, I would like to mention the current drought that is also afflicting parts of North Eastern Province. The challenge is always there but, currently, there is a severe drought which is affecting my own constituency as you may have probably seen on television. Those problems are always recurring. They are vicious problems and this time round, because of the problems in the rest of the country, the place seems to have been forgotten. I would like to appeal to everybody to come forward and help. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to support."
}