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{
    "id": 228502,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/228502/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 196,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Biwott",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 321,
        "legal_name": "Nicholas Kiprono Kipyator Biwott",
        "slug": "nicholas-biwott"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to make my contribution to the Speech by His Excellency the President which, I believe, was very innovative and actionable. I say it is innovative because it has incorporated new things that will help us, provided it is implemented in a manner that will achieve the objectives which are intended. The Speech was concise and clear. It leaves more room for those who will implement the stated policies. We know that the taste of the pudding is in the eating. The success of the new policies that His Excellency the President gave will be achieved in the implementation stage. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the idea of funding women is welcome. Sadly, it is intended for the women hawkers. We all know that majority of our women live in the rural areas. Therefore, I urge those who will be implementing this funding, to ensure that women throughout the country benefit without discrimination. Women in this country should organise themselves into small, but manageable units such as groups and co-operative societies, so that they undertake viable businesses that will generate income for them and create employment opportunities for our people. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the expansion of the Judiciary, it is very urgent and it is long overdue. It was really good that the President thought about it and gave it priority. However, in appointing the judges, I would urge the Government to appoint judges from every corner of this country in order to reflect the composition of our society. They should not concentrate these appointments on certain tribes or regions. This is because justice is the very basis of stability of the country. We should make sure that justice is fairly dispensed to avoid suspicion among our people. Injustice practices can ruin our country. I strongly believe the expansion of the Judiciary will hasten the administration of justice in this country. It is very punitive for us to arrest people and keep them for many years without them getting justice. We all know that if a person is arrested and detained for ten years before justice is administered, he will not be a normal person at the time he gets justice. He would have been traumatised. He would not even really relate the crime he committed to the judgement. So, expansion of the Judiciary is really welcome and necessary. On the quality of infrastructure, which the President talked about, it is also welcome. He also talked about promotion of social justice and equity as far as infrastructure is concerned. I know that in the current financial year which is ending in June this year, roads in 25 districts have not been well funded. They are now under the Road Maintenance Levy. They also belong to this country and they must be funded adequately. Such inequity must be discouraged because all April 3, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 315 Kenyans pay taxes and they are entitled to good services. We should not discriminate any part of this country. As a matter of urgency, the Government should address the issue of roads classification in this country. Some roads do not benefit because they are downgraded. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I said, the Speech by His Excellency the President was general. However, on the question of security, I felt he should have been specific because of the clashes in Mount Elgon District. Innocent people are losing their lives. This is unacceptable in a civilised country. I believe the relevant authorities must address the land issue in the district. This is the issue which sparked off clashes. First of all, we must establish the root cause of these clashes. We also know that in the course of time, there are other ominous activities which keep on recurring to flare up clashes in that district. I urge those who are responsible for security to put more efforts and ensure that people in this country live in peace. Our people should not suffer unnecessarily. Mount Elgon District is a small district. I believe we have enough security officers who can quell these clashes. Therefore, we should not allow the situation to deteriorate further. If we allow the situation to prevail as it is now, there will be social disintegration as was witnessed during the MauMau days."
}