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"speaker_name": "Mr. M.Y. Haji",
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"content": "Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Motion. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if I were the only person to decide on this Budget, I would have said \"no\". This is because, following the Marsabit air tragedy, hon. Members of this House spoke very passionately about development in the North Eastern Province, upper Eastern Province and other marginalised areas. I am totally disappointed to note that nothing tangible has been factored in the current Budget. Only Kshs1.5 billion has been allocated for water projects in the 22 districts in the ASAL areas. The question is this: Is it only water that we need in those areas? Definitely, the answer is \"no\". We need good roads, schools, improvement of animal husbandry and much more. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it defeats all logic that every now and then, we bring Motions to this House urging the Government to consider development in that part of the country which has been left behind since the colonial time and by all the successive governments after Independence. Every time we start a new Session, the Government gives an indication that something tangible will be done in ASAL areas. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, most of the children from ASAL areas do not perform well in school simply because, while people have gone into the computer age, our children have never set their eyes on computers because we do not have electricity, yet we have plenty of sunshine which can generate electricity through solar energy. I do not know whether we are supposed to cry so that the Government can listen to our problems. If need be, we will mobilise 5,000 people to walk naked all the way from the North Eastern Province to Nairobi. If Kenyans, our brothers and sisters, want us to cry in order for them to understand our plight, we will come to Nairobi crying because we are not being listened to. For how long are we supposed to tolerate the injustice being perpetrated against us by regime after regime? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in his Budget Speech, the Minister for Finance said that he has set aside some money for the revival of youth polytechnics. When I was a District Commissioner (DC) in 1975, people in many parts of this country started youth polytechnics. I even remember starting June 22, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1575 one such institution in Ol Kalou District, with assistance from the Aga Khan Foundation, which gave Kshs30,000. If this money is going to be given to the existing polytechnics, one wonders whether we are going to wait for ages before we can start any new polytechnic. This money should have been given to North Eastern Province, so that those districts without youth polytechnics can put up such institutions. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, currently, the poverty index is based on an economic survey that was conducted in 1999. Everybody in this House knows that, last year, we had the most devastating drought in this country. Particularly, people in Wajir, Mandera, Ijara and other districts lost 75 per cent of their livelihood. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we hear that Kshs900 million will be given out to people who are landless to buy land. What about the people of northern Kenya? What measures is the Government putting in place to ensure that they re-stock their livestock and restore their livelihood? I would like to thank the Ministry of Roads and Public Works because, under the Rural Works Programme, we have received some assistance. However, we expect other Departments to follow suit. Let me talk about our neighbours in Somalia. I would like to congratulate the Minister for Foreign Affairs for the action he has taken against warlords, whose job is to kill people and come to Kenya to rest. I normally do not visit hotels. However, last Saturday, I visited the Intercontinental Hotel and was shocked to find a group of ex-Somali politicians marauding in the place. We want the Minister and the Commissioner of Police to flush them out. Some of the ex- politicians have homes in this country. This Government has spent a lot of money in trying to bring about peace and reconciliation in Somalia. The Government's efforts would be in vain if we do not flush out the ex-Somali politicians who are in our country. With those few remarks, I oppose."
}