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{
    "id": 229515,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/229515/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 160,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Muriithi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 230,
        "legal_name": "Peter Gichohi Muriithi",
        "slug": "peter-muriithi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the President's Speech. Looking at the performance of this Government, it has done extremely well. In fact, it is a landmark. We have never seen any other Government which is action-oriented. I take this opportunity to congratulate the entire Cabinet led by His Excellency the President. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are three areas where we require improvement. His Excellency the President talked about the establishment of a Women Enterprise Fund (WEF). That Fund will go a long way in assisting all the womenfolk. Most of those women are in the informal sector doing business in Gikomba and other areas. That Fund will enable them to set up their own enterprises and get more income. That will go a long way in reducing poverty levels in this country. The President said that Kshs210 million has already been sent to the constituencies. I am afraid that I do not think those funds have reached the ground. What scares me is that we are March 22, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 101 now in March, and in a week's time, we shall be in April and soon, the Budget shall be read. Shall we have received the balance of these funds? I read the other day that the Minister had said that there are no deadlines. Surely, we work on a timetable; even this House has a timetable. How can he work without a timetable? It means that we shall continue applying for funds endlessly. I am afraid, eventually, this will be suicidal to this Government. The funds must be issued as quickly as possible for the purposes of which it was set aside by our good Government. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we still have quite a number of landless people. I know it is not possible to settle every landless Kenyan. But, at least, the Government did set aside Kshs400 million to attempt to settle a few people. We have not seen any action taken so far. We read in newspapers that Kshs160 million was used to purchase land somewhere in Molo. We have not been told how many people benefitted from that particular purchase. That obviously leaves a balance of Kshs240 million. When is this money going to be spend? Who is going to be settled? We want to see action, because our Government is action-oriented. We want to see the Ministry wake up and work. In my own constituency, Nyeri Town, we have people who live in Kiawara, Itemere and Majengo. Most of these people, especially the ones in Majengo, have been on what we call \"temporary licence of occupation (TLO)\" since 1900. I have never seen such a \"permanent temporary occupation\" in my life. They should be issued with title deeds, because the Government is willing to assist so that they can improve their living standards by constructing permanent houses."
}