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"id": 227066,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Omingo",
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"legal_name": "James Omingo Magara",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I withdraw the word \"primitive\". They are not doing the right thing, so to speak. This Government was elected on a platform of reforms, zero tolerance to corruption, secure environment and provision of employment. But the same, same \"forest\" remained intact, as it was. What, indeed, changed was the inhabitants of the forest. I sympathise with them, particularly the last hon. Member who spoke. They came in with a manifesto that was different from that of the NARC Government. Sometimes, compatibility of the same policies is a problem. So, what we are saying is that, if you were elected as a reform agent, are you going to measure your performance with the past or the new fresh thinking? Sometimes, that is why I find it difficult to say that I am proud to be a Kenyan. It is not true. If you look around, you will see nepotism, tribalism and insecurity all over. It actually paints a very dark image of this country. As much as we say this is a wonderful report, do we have the capacity and willingness to implement and do exactly what is expected of us? Kenya is a wonderful country. It is a mother willing to give April 11, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 579 birth to babies every year. A wonderful mother called Kenya! Babies in the name of a fantastic climate. A fantastic mother with wonderful resources. A wonderful mother with beautiful beaches. A wonderful mother with rich agricultural land. But what happens? This country has been \"raped\" left, right and centre by a plague called corruption and complacency. That is why, instead of sacking somebody who is incompetent, you transfer him or her to a better place to enjoy even more comfort. So, sometimes, I wonder whether I am proud to be a Kenyan. We got Independence the same time with Korea and Malaysia. Today, if you go to Malaysia, if there is a power blackout for a minute, a Minister will pack and go. The equivalent of the Kenya Power and Lighting Company Managing Director will also pack and go. The Permanent Secretary will also pack his bags. But in Kenya, you beg for power to be returned. Even after you have paid your bills, you will be forced to beg for power to be supplied! That is happening in a country that got Independence at the same time with Korea and Malaysia! What is the problem? The problem has been the plague called graft, complacency, impunity and carelessness. That is what has made us remain in the level that we are. We could have done better. I have seen reports about glaring corruption being brought before this House. But no action has been taken. That is because the person committing the same graft and eating the money meant for our roads cannot be touched simply because he is in the system and politically correct. That is an issue we need to address, so that we can be proud to be Kenyans. But, unfortunately, there is a plague that is eating mother Kenya's children - our wonderful resources. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we are talking about economic negotiations. We have made ourselves slaves of the West because of our carelessness. I remember a Minister of the Government in the previous regime confessed on the Floor of this House and said: \"I am sorry I signed on the dotted line\". That means you have no capacity to think because you are completely compromised. Reason? You have a basket which you are supposed to use and be independent. You plunder it in terms of graft to the extent that you must borrow to fill the holes that you have dug. I pray to God that one day, things will be better. I can tell you that Kenyans are optimistic. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, about six to seven months down the line, we hope to see light at the end of the tunnel. You signed on the dotted line because you must depend on an uncle from the West to give you food and fill your jacket that you tailored bigger than your body. That is the kind of primitive thinking that I was talking about, although it is unparliamentary to use the word \"primitive\". That is the unreasonable way of relating. You must do things--- It is like putting the cart before the horse. Our trade imbalances stem from graft and mismanagement of our Treasury. In that past, there were people who used to control the foreign exchange rate. They just chip in and create an artificial shortage. They then increase the supply of dollars for convenience, and what they want to achieve. We are seeing the same things in our stock exchange. It is mismanaging the Treasury for convenience. That is why we cannot have a financial stand. We cannot stand up and say no to our western big brothers! It is critical that, as we gain our political independence, financial independence is mandatory. Otherwise, you will continue signing on the dotted line for the simple reason that your Budget must be supported, courtesy of a Kshs750 billion public debt acquired dubiously. It is applied primitively."
}