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"id": 226794,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/226794/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Ethuro",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Planning and National Development",
"speaker": {
"id": 158,
"legal_name": "Ekwee David Ethuro",
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this important Motion. I want to thank Mr. Khamisi for bringing the Motion to this House although he did so a bit late. It does not matter how long it takes; Kenyans are looking for justice. They are looking for their resources from whoever looted them. What we are witnessing in the story of the Kenya Cashewnuts Factory in Kilifi is basically a political system that had lost direction and was just looking for property by depriving the people of their very existence. In the words of the late Wahome Mutahi, the Kenyan politician was suffering from \" grabbiosis \". Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think Kenyans do not realise what the outcome of the last elections meant. It meant us stopping that grabbiosis from becoming cannibalism. That is because when you exhaust all factories like the Kilifi Cashewnut Factory, inevitably, you will have to turn to the people themselves. The Select Committee, apart from looking for the culprits, should look into ways and means of reviving that factory. That way, poor peasants from the Coast can benefit from that crop. I do not see that in the Motion. I think that needs to be brought out. I realise that Mr. Khamisi is listening and Mr. Ojode's name has been \"sneaked\" into the Committee. I am sure they will do a good job to that effect. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Motion is making a real statement, an indictment on the relevant Departmental Committees of this House. The House has one powerful function of being a watchdog. We have the Public Investments Committee (PIC) and Public Accounts Committee (PAC). This matter falls squarely on the PIC. The PIC handled this matter, but not to our satisfaction. That is why it is completely necessary for Mr. Khamisi to bring a Motion before this House. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we should take our work very seriously, especially when we are dealing with watchdog committees. They should have made recommendations on that matter. I have seen the PIC Report and I am disappointed because the Committee did not make the necessary recommendations. This is a matter we would have disposed by the Report of the PIC. That also reminds us that, when the NARC Government came into power, the portfolio of the late Vice-President was the Ministry of Rehabilitation and Construction. There were many factories April 11, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 523 that had collapsed. The Kenya Co-operative Creameries (KCC) is one of them. We are happy that the KCC is now on its feet. I think we need to give the Government due credit. The Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) has also been rehabilitated. Even the cashewnut factory should have been revived. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is important to look at what is existing and build on it, rather than putting up new factories. We can take advantage of an existing infrastructure, the catchment area and the needs of the Coast Province. I realise that where I come from, we share something with the Coast Province known as the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Programme. The other day, the Minister of State for Special Programmes expanded the programme to include additional six districts, which all fall within the Coast Province. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is important that when the report finally comes out, it should contain substantial information. I believe that Members of that Committee can do that job in a period of three months. That way, they will not be caught up with the electioneering period. That should be ample time to submit their report. We have appointed Members from the other side of the House because we do not want the report to look partisan. That way, nobody will have an excuse to deny this House the benefit of redeeming this country in the particular circumstance of the cashewnut factory. When that report finally comes, we will be talking about a comprehensive programme in which we shall penalise the culprits, rehabilitate the factory and offer support to our farmers. Once it is adopted by the House and implemented by the Government, the report will demonstrate, in clear terms, the commitment of the Government to the economic recovery of Coast Province in general and ASALs in particular. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have other stalled factories. The Lake Turkana Fishing Co-operative Society went through similar problems. When I look at what is happening here, we need to have a comprehensive programme to look at all the factories that have been closed down. That factory requires only Kshs20 million. That is because the equipment, fortunately, has not been sold. The KMC has another factory in Lokichoggio at a place called Lomita. That factory requires only Kshs30 million. If all those factories could be rehabilitated, then we would be talking of making our people benefit from the economic recovery that we have witnessed in the few years that this Government has been in power. Anybody who does a good job needs to be rewarded. We believe that our friend, Mr. Khamisi and his colleagues will take cognisance of the fact that, we have a serious Government. We, on this side, do not condone corruption. Corruption, as my brother, Mr. Wetangula said earlier, is perpetuated by individuals who might be related to hon. Members in both sides of the House. I do not want to run into trouble by saying that there are people in this House who are corrupt. But I am saying that corruption does not recognise the political divide. It does not recognise the regime. It is perpetuated by particular individuals who want to use money for their political purposes. This is one thing that, as a nation, we should appeal to our leaders and the electorate to get money out of politics. That way, we can elect leaders on the basis of their credentials, integrity, good programmes and vision for this nation. Whoever will be in the Government side will act without suffering from grabiosis . We shall be able to implement sound programmes that will benefit the electorate of this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, right now, we have Vision 2030. That vision entails that our economy should grow at 10 per cent. We cannot achieve that when factories like the cashewnut factory, that is so important to the people of Coast Province, is not rehabilitated. All the other factories such as the Lake Turkana Fishing Co-operative Society, Nyanza Provincial Headquarters which is 90 per cent complete and other stalled projects should be completed. The Nyanza Provincial Headquarters is moribund and cannot be used because it is incomplete. It requires intervention on some of those things so that we realise faster economic growth. That vision can only be realised when we have good infrastructure, particularly the road 524 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 11, 2007 network. With a good road network, people can sell their commodities in both internal and external markets. That way, our people can realise disposable income to meet their basic needs. With those few remarks, I support the Motion as amended."
}