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"id": 197311,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/197311/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Letimalo",
"speaker_title": "The Member for Samburu East",
"speaker": {
"id": 68,
"legal_name": "Raphael Lakalei Letimalo",
"slug": "raphael-letimalo"
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this Motion on the Presidential Address. This being my first time in Parliament, I know I am very new to many hon. Members. I am Mr. Raphael Letimalo, the hon. Member for Samburu East Constituency. From the outset, I would like to thank the constituents of Samburu East for showing confidence in me and electing me to represent them in this august House. I promise that I will be able to provide the services they deserve. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to join hon. Members in thanking His Excellency the President and the Prime Minister-designate for taking a lead in signing the National Peace and Reconciliation Accord. I also want to thank hon. Members for passing the two Bills without amendments, to facilitate the enactment of the Constitutional amendments, the Peace Accord and to ensure that reconciliation takes place in Kenya. I am particularly happy to be associated with the passage of the two Bills. Even though we never witnessed clashes related to the post-election violence in Samburu East Constituency, but we were equally affected. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Samburu East Constituency is known for hosting many game reserves, tourist hotels and community-based conservancies that draw their revenue through tourism. As a result of the post-election violence, many tourists cancelled their hotel bookings, which necessitated the closure of many hotels and, therefore, rendered many workers jobless. It is, therefore, important that all leaders, from different political parties, support the Peace Accord to avoid the further suffering of Kenyans, particularly in the form of loss of lives, jobs and property. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the Presidential Address, His Excellency the President mentioned about free primary education. Free primary education is offered by the Government. This is something commendable considering that many children who come from poor family backgrounds, who could otherwise not have continued with their education, now have the opportunity to continue with their education without any interruption. However, there is still a lot of concern on this issue in my constituency. There are a number of children, who have attained the age of going to school, but they have not benefited and made use of this programme. It is my appeal that the Ministry concerned, and more specifically the Provincial Administration, that is the chiefs and assistant chiefs, sensitise and mobilise people, so that they are 288 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES March 19, 2008 able to send all those children who have attained the right age, to school. It is important to note that the free primary school education programme is free and compulsory. Therefore, cultural and nomadic lifestyles notwithstanding, we have a duty as a political leadership, and even those who are entrusted with administrative duties, to mobilise communities and educate them particularly on the importance of education, so that they do not lose this benefit. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, even though we say that we have attained a lot in the area of education, areas like Samburu District and particularly my constituency, still encounter a lot of problems, particularly due to insecurity and nomadic lifestyles that make many children not to go to school. The shortage of teachers is also discouraging many children from going to school. When you visit a primary school with eight classes, you will find only three teachers. In the process, many students get discouraged because they miss lessons, probably twice in a week. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, infrastructure is key to development of any area. There are areas in Samburu East Constituency that are inaccessible particularly during the rainy season. I would like to appeal to the Government to improve the road network, particularly to facilitate security and enhance economic development. There is a sub-location in my constituency that does not have a school. It becomes difficult for officers from the Ministry of Education to visit some schools because when it rains the areas become inaccessible due to swollen rivers. Some areas literally get cut off. It is important that the Ministry of Roads and Public Works gives particular attention to the ASAL areas like Samburu East Constituency. I appreciate the action taken by the Minister for Roads and Public Works to visit projects that have been constructed, particularly the roads that are under construction. But it is equally important, that the Minister visits the marginalised areas, so that when we talk about marginalised areas, the Government functionaries are able to see the kind of problems that we are experiencing. If an area gets cut off during the rainy season, that for an hon. Member or even Government officers to visit that area, they have got to go through another district or wait until the rains subside, then you can understand the element of marginalisation that we are talking about. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am aware that the Government is working on the Isiolo-Marsabit Road with a view to tarmacking it. I would like to appeal, that since that road passes through part of my constituency, I would like the Government to consider tarmacking a small route of 18 kilometres, this is the Nyarasa-Wamba Road. This leads to the headquarters of the new Samburu East Constituency. This will give an opportunity to the children of Samburu East Constituency to see a tarmacked road for the first time. It is my prayer that this will be included in the process of constructing that road. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Samburu East Constituency could be the only area where the locals do not have electricity. I am particularly concerned about the services that are offered by catholic missionaries who have really contributed towards the development of the ASAL areas. We have a big hospital in the name of Rwambwa Mission Hospital which is managed by the Catholic missionaries. It is a hospital with a wide catchment in the entire larger Samburu District which, of course, has been split into three. The whole of Marsabit District, Isiolo District and parts of Laikipia and Meru districts. That hospital serves as a referral hospital in critical cases. If you talk of in-patient capacity, the hospital has 200 beds. It also runs a nursing training school. This hospital spends about Kshs1 million on diesel per month for power supply. By all standards, that is really a huge amount of money. There is, therefore, need to provide electricity to that hospital and other institutions, particularly now that Samburu East is a district. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, community-based conservancies are taking root in Samburu East Constituency and I appreciate the investors who are behind the creation of conservancies in my constituency. This has created employment and has reinforced security through employment of game rangers. They are now able to carry out security patrols alongside the March 19, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 289 regular security personnel. However, I am concerned that--- Thank you."
}