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"id": 229338,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/229338/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Tarus",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Office of the President",
"speaker": {
"id": 315,
"legal_name": "Stephen Kipkiyeny Tarus",
"slug": "stephen-tarus"
},
"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the issue of poverty, when the economy improves, I do not think it is true that the lives of people do not improve. First of all, Kenya no longer imports food. It is shameful for a country with a vast potential for food production to import food. That is the shame that we had for the last several years. However, for the last four years, Kenya has not imported any food. It relies on its own production to satisfy the food requirement of its people. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the issue of governance, I think it is the role of all of us; the leadership of Kenya, to ensure that Kenyans have the best governance. This can be done by making sure we respect the rule of law, decisions of the judiciary and support Parliament to be independent. I think Parliament has the greatest role in ensuring that the rule of law is implemented as required. I say so because since Parliament established the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC), it would be very ironic if we cannot trust the KACC. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for this country to enjoy, a corruption-free environment, hon. Members have the opportunity to use this House to bring Motions or Bills which will ensure that we improve where we have failed. With regard to the youth and women, I want to say that they constitute the largest percentage of the Kenyan population. But when you look at their income levels, the endowments and the resource availability for the two groups, wealth is skewed unfavourably against them. Therefore, I want to thank the Government, first of all, for having ensured that there is allocation of funds that will provide an opportunity for the youth and women to enable them to participate in the growth of the national economy. I know that unemployment has been a big problem. But given the fact that now the Government is investing in the innovation and expertise of the youth and women, we expect the 146 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES March 27, 2007 economy of Kenya to grow even faster. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to the Constitution review, we can talk of the minimum or the comprehensive reforms but the Ninth Parliament will stand accused if Kenyans do not receive a new Constitution. Whether you are for minimum or comprehensive reforms, we have nine months to go and this Parliament will not escape the blame as the Parliament that denied to expand opportunities for Kenyan people to participate in leadership, equal distribution of wealth and elimination of injustice. I am glad that the two sides of the House have agreed that there is need to sit down and talk together and, we are now going to discuss about the minimum reforms. However, I hope that this time round, we shall not see cunningness that is common in the political field. I hope that the leadership of this country will take the interests of the Kenyan people first and ensure that what we put forward will ensure that Kenya as a nation is united again. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have heard complaints about the creation of new districts. Today, the population is about 31 million people. You cannot expect Kenya to be administered under the same framework that it was 10 or 20 years ago. The challenges of administration, development and administration of justice require that more districts are created. Those who do not come from the vast regions like, for example, Turkana or the northern part of Kenya, do not know what they are talking about when they oppose the creation of new districts. I say so because people need to go there - I do not know how many hon. Members have visited those areas - to appreciate the suffering and the security challenges in those particular areas. Therefore, I want to say that the creation of new districts will, in fact, ensure better service delivery to the people. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the proposal to bring a Bill on crime and illegal money laundering is long overdue. We need to protect this country from the hands of the corrupt and those who deal in drugs. The way I see Kenya going and the way I see people campaigning, this country risks being led by the most corrupt people if we are not careful. The faster we bring that law, the better for our country. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}