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"speaker_name": "Mr. Yattani",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Science and Technology",
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the Presidential Speech. First, I wish to record my thanks to the President for giving a wonderful Speech and also for providing good stewardship of the country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Government has made several strides in economic development, especially in areas of free primary education, improved infrastructure and the Youth Enterprise Development Fund. However, there are a number of concerns that need to be addressed as far as the free primary education is concerned. In the rural areas, especially, in the pastoralist districts, the shortage of teachers is chronic. We are running ten to 20 classes using three teachers. Something needs to be done as urgently as possible. On the issue of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, I agree with the hon. Member from South Mugirango that effective administration of this Fund can only be possible if there is level playing ground. If you look at the rural areas, especially, among the pastoralist communities, these financial intermediaries are non-existent. People have to travel over several kilometres to the district headquarters to access basic knowledge. I think something needs to be devised so that the youth at various levels can be reached and educated on how best they can access this Fund. The idea of giving pamphlets might not reach every corner of this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am really concerned because in spite of the various strides this Government has made in the economic field, the redistribution of wealth remains the biggest obstacle. The minority groups in this country are not incorporated in the mainstream economic affairs. When it comes to appointments, it is very predictable that a particular community will be favoured. That needs to be given consideration. People from minority tribes in this country have an equal stake in this Government in spite of their numbers. A lot of political lobbying is done when a certain office falls vacant. Even the most qualified people from the minority groups are not given any consideration. A case in point is the El Molo, the Gabbra and other marginalised communities. It is very likely that people from these communities might never go beyond being a sitting Member of Parliament. They might never get any high rank in this Government just as was the case with the previous Government. I think this Government needs to address that issue. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the issue of security, I must appreciate that the Government has made so many strides in ensuring that there is peace and order in many parts of the country, especially in the urban centres. However, a lot needs to be done in the far flung March 28, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 183 districts of this country, for example, Marsabit. If somebody came from Mars today and was dropped in Marsabit District, he would think that it is a collapsed state. This district has all the attributes of a collapsed state. The responsibility of any government is to provide social good, which includes infrastructure and security. If security is lacking, whatever people want to undertake in terms of economic gains will not be realised. The Minister concerned needs to address the issue of security in Marsabit because people are killed on a daily basis. People are segregated even from using water from Government taps and dams constructed by the taxpayers' money. Segregation abounds on the basis of ethnic identities of people. Minority groups are denied water and employment. In fact, they now live in camps as internally displaced persons and yet there is nothing about that being mentioned. The Minister concerned and the relevant Government organ are not concerned at all. It is high time special attention was given to Marsabit and other areas experiencing similar problems because security is paramount and everybody has a right to that security. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have a very humble suggestion to the Ministry concerned with security. A very detailed inquiry, as far as the affairs of Marsabit are concerned, needs to be put in place. The relevant machinery of the Government should carry out an inquiry because the situation is getting worse. People are losing lives and property such as houses and farms. In fact, people are retrogressing in every aspect of life. We require a detailed inquiry so that we can come to the bottom of issues at hand. Road network is a very crucial component of any development activity. There are a number of promises that have been made since Independence that the Marsabit-Isiolo Road would be tarmacked. Every other year, that promise is made to us. It is important to realise that the Marsabit- Isiolo-Moyale Road connects Kenya to Ethiopia. After Ethiopia ceded part of its territory to Eriteria, it is now a landlocked country. We all know that Eriteria and Ethiopia are not friendly countries. In fact, Ethiopia is looking for alternative ways of importing their goods from overseas and the only port they can use is Mombasa. However, they get a lot of difficulties in transporting goods from Isiolo to Moyale. That road needs to be tarmacked. It is a pity that sometime last year only two kilometres of that road were tarmacked. The people of that area were happy because they thought that tarmacking of the road had commenced in earnest and that the rough road would now be a thing of the past. Unfortunately, four or five months down the line, all the machinery on the ground has been withdrawn and the tarmac is no longer there. This is a matter that needs to be addressed seriously. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to the issuance of national identity cards, the situation is very bad in every part of this country, but worse in northern Kenya. National identity cards are very crucial documents because you cannot vote without them. Also, you cannot seek employment or travel to any part of this country without the identification card. People in northern Kenya are very disadvantaged because they cannot compete with people from other parts of the country. They consider themselves inferior because they cannot get national identity cards. This issue needs to be addressed in earnest. Lastly, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would wish to thank His Excellency the President for creating new districts. This is because new districts are created so that services are enhanced and brought closer to the people. Therefore, Kenyans get the opportunity to participate in the affairs of their districts. However, it is unfortunate that new districts are created on the basis of friendship. They are created on the basis of who knows who. Marsabit District is bigger than Western, Central and Nyanza provinces combined and even Rwanda and Burundi put together. It is the only district in this country in which residents travel over 600 kilometres to see their District Commissioner. In spite of so many attempts we have made, nothing is being done. We are told that something will be done. I think it is important for 184 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES March 28, 2007 justice to be exercised. If new districts are given to areas whose residents do not deserve and are not interested, it is high time that the relevant arm of the Government addressed this matter. That is the only way that every person living in this country would feel the ownership of its affairs. That is the only way people will feel obliged to support the Government. Something needs to be done. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you very much for the opportunity."
}