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{
    "id": 248027,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/248027/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 210,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Rotino",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 350,
        "legal_name": "Phillip Ruto Rotino",
        "slug": "phillip-rutino"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this 1178 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES May 7, 2006 opportunity to support this very important Motion. As the Mover and seconder have said, this Motion is long overdue because the 46 districts which were created during Independence were created when the population of this country was less than 20 million. It is now 43 years after Independence and the population has grown rapidly. We, therefore, do not expect the districts to remain the way they were. When the former President created 28 more districts, he was really right. This is because he knew that the population in this country had increased. I do not understand why the creation of districts was not formalised at that particular time. Whether people say that the districts were politically created, as the seconder put it, all these districts are politically created in order to serve a certain purpose, one of which is to be able to address the existing problems in the new districts. During the referendum, one of the key issues in the Draft Constitution was devolution of power. This was important in that it would ensure that services are taken closer to the people even as the population increases. This Motion is, therefore, timely and we are ready to support it. Anybody opposing this Motion will be doing so against the wishes of Kenyans. He or she will also be against the new Constitution that we want to be passed. We want services to be brought closer to people as much as possible. People should feel that they own this country. If, for example, you look at Baringo District there are communities within that district who have been given a district by the current President. I am talking about the Pokot in Baringo District. If you go to that district, there are no services! Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the distance between the districts is small and yet, there are no services. There is not even a kilowatt of electricity in the so-called sub-district. I want to commend the current President for giving East Pokot a district. That is because they were completely suppressed and \"sat\" on by the Tugens of Baringo District. There are many communities of that nature. Services only reach certain areas. There are minority communities who are deprived of services because the other communities are big and \"sit\" on them. Therefore, the creation of new districts is going to help them. I want to support that, so that our people can get services. The entire constituency, which is bigger than Baringo District, has no police station! Yet, there is a lot of insecurity in that area! The proximity between that area and district headquarters is very far. I am even supporting the creation of 48 more districts! All those districts should be formalised! We should have 122 districts so that people can get services and feel that they are Kenyans. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the new districts will solve the problem of insecurity that is rampant in this country. Even West Pokot, itself, should be divided into two. We should have Sigor as a new district. The distance between Kapenguria and Sigor is about 200 kilometres. You spend about Kshs400 to go to the District Headquarters to be served. So, we need another district so that we can take services closer to the people. The essence of the Government is to take services closer to the people. So, the creation of another district inWest Pokot will go a long way in serving the people of that district. That way, they will feel that they are really Kenyans enjoying the services of their Government. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to support this Motion by saying that it is timely! A Bill should come to formalise all those districts and, if need be, more should be created. As we create those districts, more revenue will come to the Government. As the Seconder of the Motion said, the Suba community was sub-merged by the Luo Community. But now, they are recognised as a district. They are a unit by themselves and enjoy the services. If you go to Uganda-- -"
}