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"id": 197732,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/197732/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Mwaura",
"speaker_title": "The Member for Lari",
"speaker": {
"id": 106,
"legal_name": "David Njuguna Kiburi Mwaura",
"slug": "david-mwaura"
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"content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, my name is Mr. David Njuguna Mwaura from Lari Constituency where we had the famous Lari Massacre in 1952 and where a lot March 13, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 157 of damage was done to human life. Houses were burnt. People were murdered and lot of suffering was encountered by our people. However, one thing that makes me very happy is the statement that was issued by the late President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, when he came out of detention. In his wisdom, he requested the Kenyan people, particularly those who were affected by these massacres and atrocities to forgive, but never forget. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in my few observations, I would like to thank very highly the Panel of Eminent Persons who spearheaded the peace that we are talking about today. I wish also to extend congratulations to our neighbours, and in particular, the Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete and also the other sympathiser, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. I also wish to congratulate the African Union (AU) for the critical role they played in making sure that we obtained stability and tranquillity in our land. I would also not forget the wonderful and historic contribution that was made by His Excellency the President, Mwai Kibaki and the Prime Minister-designate, Mr. Raila Amolo Odinga for his timely decision and sacrifice to making sure that peace is restored in our nation. I will not also forget that big day when the Accord was signed on 28th February to give the Kenyan nation a new face. The Kenyan population or the citizens of this nation regained confidence and trust in this Accord. It was a journey that was started with a lot of struggle and one that we have started and we are in its middle to give the Kenyan people what they have been expecting. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the President and Prime Minister-designate have already given the direction this country should take. That direction will only be taken if this National Assembly takes the wise leadership provided by these two. The road is clear ahead of us. For all of us to provide that leadership, we should be obedient to that direction. We should not behave like Jonah of the Bible. In Jonah Chapter One, Jonah was asked to go to Nineveh and he changed the course to go to Tarshish. We all know the kind of suffering he encountered. There was a big fish waiting for him in the water. There is a dangerous fish waiting for us if we are not serious about this direction that we have been told to follow by the two principals. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as I continue to make a number of observations, I am worried about the militias that have really sprung up on our land. They have already caused a lot of fear in the minds of our people. It is a pity that their whereabouts and their leaders are known, but no serious action is being taken. I request those who might have participated in these heinous actions to hear the plea of the Kenyan people. We need healing and reconciliation in this country. There is also need to dismantle these militia groups. All of us should join hands and pray for these groups to put aside their arms for the sake of this nation. Mr. Speaker, Sir, another observation that I want to make is about the mayors and chairmen of county councils. It is high time voters are given room to decide on who will become the chairmen or the mayors of various county councils and municipalities, respectively. We have seen people who are immensely wealthy being elected mayors and chairmen. Consequently, we are depriving voters of the right to elect their leaders to various local authorities. That is why our local authorities and cities have failed to provide services to our people because the leadership is questionable. We need, therefore, to enact that law very quickly indeed, so that the integrity and dignity of the local authority is preserved. Another area I wish to draw the attention of the House to is the role played by our media during this serious crisis. The common man was asking and is still asking the role played by the media particularly the local stations. We need to question the body that monitors the media houses. This is because if they are not checked, they will continue to fuel problems in this nation, the same way it has happened in our neighbouring countries and elsewhere. When we come to the issue of industrialisation in this nation, we have seen industries being concentrated in certain areas such as Nairobi and elsewhere. We have unemployed people in all the 158 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES March 13, 2008 corners of this nation. Those concerned with the planning of industrialisation and putting up of factories should think of wider areas of this nation to create employment in those areas. We have seen some factories and companies in this country such as the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) and others. We would like to see other companies that stalled long time ago like Uplands Bacon Factory being revived and given attention. If this is done, farmers, pig keepers and others will get an opportunity to improve their lives. Another area that I also made critical observation about is the Mzima Water Project. It was mentioned by the President in his historic Speech. We pray that water would be supplied to all provinces in the Republic. Areas with huge populations are not given adequate water which is key to life. I also wish to draw the attention of the House to the issue of poverty reduction. We cannot talk about poverty reduction when fuel prices in Nairobi and elsewhere keep on increasing. A litre of fuel costs almost Kshs100 and one litre of kerosene also costs Kshs60. You can imagine about the peasant who gets Kshs100 and buys one litre of kerosene at Kshs60, what would he remain with? Are we creating poverty or increasing wealth in this country? So, the Government should pay immediate attention to this matter and reduce fuel prices or make it moderately affordable. If you walk along Uhuru Highway, you will see very good cars which are stuck by the roadside. You will see some people carrying jerricans of petrol to fuel their cars. This development should not be allowed in our country. Another area that I have also given some attention to is the education sector. As we speak now, the board of governors and principals in our schools---"
}