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{
    "id": 197939,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/197939/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 38,
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    "content": "even up to 16 personal assistants to support them in their contributions in Parliament. The ICT is not developed here. The department of ICT has only three members of staff. I think something needs to be done urgently. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to add a few additional issues that should be brought to the agenda of this Parliament. The Budget law needs to be reinstated. The Budget law was meant to allow public participation and also committee participation of this House in the formulation of the Budget and also to improve accountability. The Cotton Act is also very important and so is the Pyrethrum Act. Some people will be surprised as to why the Member of Parliament for Samburu West should talk about cotton and 100 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES March 12, 2008 pyrethrum. Indeed, research has been done on pyrethrum and results have shown that the best pyrethrin; the poison that kills mosquitoes, can grow in Samburu. We want to diversify the economy. The Mining Act is very colonial since it prefers large-scale mining. It needs to be overhauled, so that small-scale miners and communities can benefit. There are massive resources of minerals in my constituency. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to talk about livestock. In the President's Speech, the only aspect of livestock that was mentioned was the dairy sector. I want to say that livestock is very critical for food security not only for pastoralists but for all of us. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as a country, we have not recruited veterinary officers for the last ten years. There are 400 veterinarians in the Civil Service, most of whom will retire in the next five years. Something must be done because the country requires 100 veterinarians for food security, disease control and even to protect the dairy industry which the President mentioned. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to commend the Anti-stock Theft Unit based in my constituency. The Government must not allow them to be harassed by cattle rustlers. As I have said, we have incidents of cattle rustlers harassing Anti-stock Theft Unit officers. Policemen must be respected. If we do not respect the police, if we do not treat them as human beings and if we attack police stations, then we have attacked the very fabric of Government. I know it is not very popular to praise policemen in this House. Finally, I want to urge the Government to tarmack Maralal-Rumuruti Road. That road belongs to Kenya and many Kenyans use it, including tourists travelling to Lake Turkana."
}