Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 240805,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/240805/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 275,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Musyoka",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 191,
        "legal_name": "Gideon Musyoka Ndambuki",
        "slug": "gideon-ndambuki"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I begin by congratulating Prof. Oniang'o for bringing this matter before the House. I want to say that I fully support this Motion which seeks the leave of the House to introduce a Bill to be entitled: The National Famine and Drought Management Bill, 2006. Although there is need for us to be positive and not forever think in terms of famine relief, I think the reality on the ground is that many of our people are in need of serious support in terms of their own existence and ability to feed their families. July 26, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2373 I remember as a young boy in Class V, I was faced with a tremendous famine in my own village. In fact, my own mother had to escape to Meru for a whole month to look for food for the family. Our father was just keeping us company. There is nothing as demeaning as famine. That is a human rights issue and it is a matter that should engage the minds of all of us. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when I talk about famine, I talk with emotion. I would have expected Mr. Munyes, for whom I have a lot of respect, to have brought a team of his officials, so that they can listen to what hon. Members have to say on this very important matter of famine relief. I was ashamed when I went, under the auspices of a foundation that is registered in my name, to a place called Nginyang in Baringo East. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, what shocked us was that the store that was supposed to hold food in the name of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) had been converted to a prison house for cattle. Instead of storing food for the people of Baringo East, that NCPB store was a prison for animals which have been stolen and recovered. That, therefore, completely ignores the very intention for which that store was put up in the first place. We have our priorities upside down. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I want to challenge my good friend, Mr. Munyes, to give an account of the amount of assistance this country received, at the time when the President declared the current famine a national disaster. That is very important because you will be going to the same people in future. It is important to say: \"This is what we received! This is how it was spent!\" I know that the Red Cross and other organisations did a tremendous job, but we want to be told how the monies and assistance that was received by this Government was actually utilised. I also want to remind the Minister that, even as we speak, the long rains have not done well in my constituency. I want to invite him to Mwingi and see for himself that there is serious famine."
}