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{
    "id": 253282,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/253282/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 262,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Angwenyi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 326,
        "legal_name": "Jimmy Nuru Ondieki Angwenyi",
        "slug": "jimmy-angwenyi"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, first I wish to thank the Mover of this Motion. It is only a week ago when we lost our beloved colleagues who were on a mission to restore peace amongst our people. If the successive Governments had addressed the needs of the people in the northern parts of this country, we would not have lost the lives of our colleagues. However, we lost those lives because this Parliament has not played its role in this country. This Parliament is capable of amending the law so that it scrutinises our Budget to ensure that adequate resources are devoted to the marginalised people in this country. If this Parliament, for example, demanded from the Minister for Finance that he must allocate between Kshs3 billion and Kshs4 billion for road construction in the northern part of the country, we would be able to do, at least, 400 kilometres of all-weather roads. I am sure, if we do that every year, after five years, like the Leader of official Opposition said, we will have done about 2,000 kilometres to 3,000 kilometres of all-weather roads in that area. The budget for water in this country is about Kshs5 billion and if this Parliament demanded that 60 per cent of that money be taken to the northern part of this country, we will be able to provide the people in the north with adequate water resources and that would stop them from fighting over water resources. However, this Parliament only serves as a rubberstamp. We know it although we do not want to admit it. The Budget is prepared elsewhere and then brought before us. Instead of us scrutinising it, we just pass it because the time to pass it has come either through Guillotine or otherwise. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I happened to visit Egypt with a Departmental Committee of the House. Egypt is an arid and dry country. We saw the way Egyptians have developed their water resources and they are prepared to come and assist us. It is only that we have not allowed them to come over and assist us in developing our water resources in the northern parts of this country simply because there are no kickbacks with them. If we use the technology developed in Egypt or the United Arab Emirates, we will be able to address the problems facing our people in the north of this country. Insecurity is not restricted only in the north. There is insecurity in Trans Mara also. Why do April 19, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 583 we have cattle rustling in Trans Mara and yet there is water and a vast land there. Why the insecurity in this region? It is because the Government has not stamped down its foot. Perhaps, we should add some venom in Mr. Michuki so that he has enough chuki to deal with these people. We want Mr. Michuki to have enough chuki to deal with these people who are killing themselves. Why can we not take a census of animals in those areas? We can carry out a census of those animals, so that we know, for example, those that belong to the Samburu, the Pokot, Borana, Gabra and the Orma. This will enable the Government to plan for those communities and their livestock. Why can we not provide livestock extension services to those people and at the same time, control the movement of their animals, so that they are not stolen? Why can we not utilise our army at the borders to construct roads in those areas? We are paying them a salary and they are not constructing roads. The road from Embu to Meru was constructed by the British army. I understand they did a similar exercise in Laikipia. Why can we not use our own people who I believe are educated? We can give them the equipment to construct roads in the north so that we can eliminate insecurity in that area. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}