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{
    "id": 248702,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/248702/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 215,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Prof. Maathai",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 226,
        "legal_name": "Wangari Muta Maathai",
        "slug": "wangari-maathai"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to contribute to this Motion. I want to thank Dr. Ojiambo for considering to bring this Motion to this House. I want to agree with many hon. Members who have contributed to this Motion in emphasising the need for us to come up with strict guidelines that will help us manage our financial resources better than we have done in the past. As other hon. Members have emphasised it, indeed, it is a shame, especially during the NARC era, that we should continue to be considered in the world as a corrupt country. We all remember that the NARC Government came into power promising that we would get rid of corruption. Many of us know corruption had destroyed our economy and the lives of our people. I remember that I was involved in an international campaign to persuade the international community to cancel the debts of our country and many other poor countries in the world which were burdened by the heavy debts that they had incurred. Despite the fact that we argued that the majority of the people who were suffering from those debts were the poor people of those countries; constantly we were reminded by the rich countries to whom we owed billions of dollars, that they would not cancel or relieve us of our debts because the only people who would benefit would be the rich; the ruling elite. They said many of the people on whose behalf we are speaking would not benefit. That was because we had such governance as to allow extensive corruption, especially in the area of procurement. I remember being extremely frustrated by this argument and wondering when we, as governments in Africa, shall decide to work for the benefit our people. When shall we be touched by the poverty of our people? When shall we be touched by the indignity that our people suffer in the face of poverty, which is literally brought to us through corruption? Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when we, as NARC, started the campaign we persuaded our people to elect us in positions of power, so that we could come to this House and clean up our country. I remember that one of the most exciting promises we made was that we would get rid of corruption. It is, therefore, very discouraging that when we visit different parts of May 31, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1059 this world, we are constantly being asked: When will the NARC Government get rid of corruption in Kenya? I constantly have to say that what we, as the NARC Government, are trying to do is to establish institutions that will make sure that corruption is curtailed in our country. In any country, whether poor or rich, unless we have strong institutions that will ensure resources of the country are managed for the benefit of the people of that country, sooner or later, those in power are tempted to mismanage those resources. If we are put in a position of power, opportunities and privileges, unless we have deterrence and institutions that provide checks and balances, it is---"
}