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"speaker_name": "Mr. Musila",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is very sad that while we are discussing a matter that is so close to the hearts of poor Kenyans, some hon. Members here do not August 2, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2527 think it is serious. The point I was trying to make before I was interrupted is; the resources we have in this country are enough to completely eliminate famine. I was giving an example of the money spent in Mwingi District in the last financial year. If that money was directed to drilling boreholes and providing water, I would not ask any more questions regarding famine. Two weeks ago, we saw in Kapenguria, food meant for famine relief being sold. From that day on, we have not heard anything being mentioned about the issue. In fact, we understand that the Government is responsible, and would like to hold communities hostage through famine relief, so that some of its officials can benefit from it. We know that previously, Government officials have been found selling food that is meant for famine relief. We know that most of the people who transport that food are Government officers and, therefore, it has become a trend. We also know that the Government uses famine relief to woo Kenyans to vote for it. So, famine relief is there to stay, as long as the Government wants to use it to marginalise communities which have been permanently depending on it. When my friend, Mr. Munyes, was appointed a Minister - he comes from Turkana, perhaps an area where people suffer from famine more than in Mwingi District - we all celebrated. However, I am sorry to say that things have moved from bad to worse, since he took charge of the Ministry. He is my very good friend, yet we do not get any supplies in Mwingi. It hurts me to stand here and talk about famine relief every now and then. I want to declare here and now, that our people do not want free food. They want to be facilitated to be able to grow their own food. They want to be provided with water to grow their own food. They want to be provided with the necessary finances in order to farm because they are farmers. However, the Government is deliberately keeping the communities under permanent famine for its own benefit. I can speak here until the sun sets. I do not know what language I can use in order to convince the Government that our communities are suffering out there. Recently, last year because of the Press - and I thank them for highlighting the situation - individuals went to famine stricken areas to give affected people food, and the problem was reduced. However, I want to say that nothing has changed since then. In fact, things have become worse because the recent rains failed. In Mwingi District, rains have been failing for the past four years. But what has the Government done? The last time the Government distributed food in Mwingi District was during the referendum period. Since we did not vote for the draft constitution, the Government stopped distributing food. The Government has abandoned its responsibilities to the communities. It has given the World Food Programme (WFP) the responsibility of looking after the communities. The WFP has been going to villages and picking out about ten people in every village and giving them food while leaving out the rest, yet the Minister is doing nothing. I think the only solution to the perennial famine problem that has been affecting our people is through the introduction of this Bill. I want to urge all hon. Members to support this Motion so that in the end, we can force the Government to address issues regarding dry areas. As it is today, well-to-do areas are allocated funds for road construction and other Government resources, yet areas which are suffering persistent droughts are left to continue suffering. If you remember, I brought a Motion to this House, asking the Government to release certificates of famine stricken students who had finished form four, and had not completed paying school fees. This House passed that Motion. Today, thousands of poor students out there are permanently condemned to poverty because their parents are poor, owing to famine. Once they have finished going through secondary education, they cannot access employment because they do not have any certificates. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, lright now, there are vacancies in the Prisons Department and, yet those people cannot access them because they do not have certificates. I want 2528 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES August 2, 2006 the Government to look into this issue, more than just giving out food. The Government should empower the communities which are permanently disadvantaged by drought so that they are able to live quality lives like other Kenyans. I want to emphasise that we should support this Motion so that we can have a Bill coming here. That way, the Government will be forced, by the law, to manage famine and drought in this country. I beg to support."
}