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{
    "id": 229347,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/229347/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 230,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Prof. Olweny",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 122,
        "legal_name": "Patrick Ayiecho Olweny",
        "slug": "patrick-olweny"
    },
    "content": "Thank you Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to contribute towards the Speech by His Excellency the President. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the last paragraph on page 19 of this booklet says: 150 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES March 27, 2007 \"The provision of quality physical infrastructure is critical in increasing the economic growth rate from 6 to 10 per cent per year within the next five years.\" First of all, my problem is with this issue of economic growth rate. Secondly, I have a problem with the physical infrastructure, particularly the roads. Now, we are being told the country recorded 6 per cent economic growth rate. However, when I visit my Muhoroni Constituency, and probably the neighbouring constituencies, I do not see or feel this growth. We started well in the year 2003, but I think somewhere along the line, things changed. If you look, for example, at the agricultural sector, things are not doing well at all. This is because economic growth is normally assessed in form of agricultural growth, which I do not see in my constituency. We mainly grow sugar cane, but farmers still experience problems. I will talk about maize which is mostly grown in the Rift Valley. The maize farmers in that province are still experiencing problems. Do we need to be told pyrethrum farmers are also experiencing problems in this country? Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, one of the parameters of assessing economic performance is growth in the agricultural sector. I think we still have many problems in this sector, which should have been addressed by this Government. It is now over four years since the NARC Government came into power. However, it has spent more time squabbling than addressing important issues in this country. The extension services have not been revived by President Kibaki's Government since they collapsed during the former President Moi's regime. We thought he would do so when he was elected President. We are almost completing our five-year term without effective extension services for our farmers. So, to me, effective economic growth is not really being realised. We cannot talk of economic growth if roads are in a terrible state. I heard some colleagues on the other side say that there are good roads. Maybe good roads have been constructed in their constituencies. I think my constituency has some of the worst roads in this country. Take the road going towards hon. Nyachae's home, passing through Narok, for example. Before he reaches Kisii---"
}