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"speaker_name": "Mr. Omingo",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to agree with some hon. Members who said that the Attorney-General's Office has actually let us, this country and the Government down. At one time, I shared a very informal talk with a senior Government colleague whose name I will withhold. The talk was very informal, although useful, for the Executive to realize that they are not doing a good job in terms of the legal framework of this country. That stems out from the discussion that we had in our Committee. We asked one executive how he has managed to serve so well in the Kibaki Adminstration when he was so good in the other regime. The explanation we got was wanting. He said that he used his meekness to gain favour with the former regime, and that now, he is using his professional prowess to serve the Kibaki regime. That tells you that we have chameleons in our midst. A person could serve so well in two regimes that are completely different. That senior Government also told me that you need an officer in that office whom you can talk to. That confirms the fact that we have refused and we are unable to carry our own weight in terms of fighting graft. You cannot lift your own weight because when you start touching that toe that has jiggers, it is painful and then you stop mid-stream. Therefore, graft will not be eliminated. Some stones are so heavy to be turned and this is the reason why there must be a total change of thinking and re-organisation of Government. Madam Minister has said that she co-ordinates and churns out policy on graft. I want to remind her that she has so many vehicles, some of which do not have engines to propel the agenda of fighting against corruption. They are too many. I wish she had a few, which she can focus on. You will find blame shifting from one institution to the other. Some of these institutions do not have engines and you have to push them to fight graft. They will not move. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to go back to the issue of promissory notes and illegal contracts. This country, rich as it is, is bleeding in the hands of corruption. I repeat that our country Kenya is a rich country; a fertile mother. We have been raping the children of mother Kenya. We continue doing it year after year. We continue paying for services not rendered in this country. I also want to share the sentiments of hon. Wamwere, that even if it means going to the International Court of Justice to stop the Kenyan child from suffering and paying debts for which nothing has been received, we had better go there. Madam Karua is a very brilliant and courageous Minister. We can go to the International Court of Justice and even if the promissory notes are irrevocable, we can repudiate them and refuse to pay. After all, what would they do to us? We can eat our githeri and forget about them. The only problem is that we have no financial strength to stand on our own because we are overly dependant on the donor contribution. We must stop that. Let us tailor our jacket to the size of our body, and then coupled with the efficient application of the little that we have, we shall have surplus resources to improve our infrastructure and provide basic requirements to our people. April 18, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 761 Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have talked about the relevance of the Report and I have raised the issue of the old report mirroring on the current report. That is why Anglo Leasing is a replica of Goldenberg. There are so many more such contracts from both the previous and the current regimes. It may sound old, but it is from history that we map and mirror into the future. As the Minister has said, it is true that history will judge us very harshly. Some of the people who have been mentioned in this Report are here. It does not matter how long it will take, but when time comes, you will be made to answer for your sins. Know yee, therefore, all men, that once we let out the dogs, you will be hunted. We have talked about the issue of Government's interest in fighting graft. It is important that we do not focus on graft as to who it touches, whether a man from a certain region, a brother or a person with whom we went through the same cultural rituals. Let us save the Kenyan child from collapse and from the burden of debt. Finally, I would like to draw the attention of the PAC and the Controller and Auditor- General, who is doing an extremely good job, to the fact that beyond waiting for these reports to come, we should be having our hands on. Let us deal with issues that are on going, so that we can stop them. We were lucky that we trampled on Anglo Leasing and we stopped the issue before it blew up. Some things are on going and the Departmental Committee on Finance, Planning and Trade should look at the Budget and ask the various Ministries whether they deserve the Budget of this year, based on the value they have given to Kenyans from the previous Budget. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when I was contributing, I said that most of our Budgets are simply a factor of our previous years' Budget, factored by 10 per cent. There is no reason, logic, value or commitment. As a result, there is a lot of wastage of our resources to the extent that some resources are re-located to areas that are \"politically correct\". Indeed, that is also corruption in itself. That is abuse of office. That is why we require Parliament, through the Departmental Committee on Finance, Planning and Trade, to interrogate the Budget before it is presented to the House, so that we can account and give value for money to Kenyans. The support we have received from the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs gives me a bit of hope, that one time, things will be different. I want to believe that it does not only call for her action as an individual, but it is a collective responsibility. You may want to be driving your vehicle at 120 kilometres per hour, but if your partner or your co-driver slams his leg on the clutch, you will never move. Therefore, it is the collective responsibility of the Government to address the issues that affect Kenyans and the Kenyan child who is carrying a burden of debt because of wastage. The Kenyan child bears debts to the tune of Kshs750 billion. This is equivalent to about Kshs34,000 per child. From the moment a child is born, he or she will continue paying for Anglo Leasing, Goldenberg and Forensic Laboratory type of contracts. This is painful. I have never known of a mother who gives birth to children and kills them. Kenya is an exceptional example. We must stand to be counted. I plead for reason and common sense to prevail. We should focus on mother Kenya; the fertile mother, serve her better, so that we can reap wonderful resources. With those few remarks, I beg to move."
}