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"id": 254113,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/254113/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Miriti",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Trade and Industry",
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"id": 371,
"legal_name": "Petkay Shem Nkiria Miriti",
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to support the Presidential Speech that was delivered during the opening of the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament. The Speech sends clear signals that the President really understands what the needs of Kenyans are. In fact, the President has shown unparalleled quality leadership such as has never been witnessed in this country before. This has been manifested by the creation of unprecedented democratic space which is being enjoyed by every Kenyan. Today, every Kenyan enjoys freedom provided that he meets the regulations and norms as expressed by all other Kenyans. We have also witnessed unprecedented economic performance. Today, every Member of Parliament can boast of having implemented a programme in his or her constituency through the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF). Today, every family with a primary school child is proud of having eaten its share of the national cake. Before NARC took over leadership, it was 350 PARLIMENTARY DEBATES April 5, 2006 difficult for many Members of Parliament to tell their constituencies what they had done for them. However, this time round, every other Member of Parliament is always busy distributing Government resources when he or she goes to the constituency. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, allow me to quote part of the Presidential Speech: \"We need to sustain this momentum and we should all work together to minimise negative political activities that can create and justify fear or uncertainty amongst investors.\" Some politicians have deviated from the course of real politics, that is, fruitful politics. Today, we are witnessing expressions of frustration instead of politics. Politics is not building Kenya, rather it is destroying it. We are witnessing expressions of hatred and that is a diversionary course from the real issues which could address the welfare of Kenyans. When you look at our politics, you are reminded of a psychological condition called delusional disorder. This disorder manifests in various ways. In some cases, we have people who seem to be haunted by unseen ghosts. Such types of disorders include persecutory disorder, grandiose disorder and many others. We should be careful not to react to politicians who have psychological problems. The President said that negative politics will never at any time help Kenya. Negative politics will create hatred, confusion and antagonistic tendencies. It will destroy the very base which has been reinforced for many years. These days, some key leaders engage in partisan and defensive politics; politics of hate. This country will develop if we address real issues. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the youth, while we appreciate the new directive that the youth applying for the issuance of the national identity cards should not pay anything, I would like a situation whereby those applying to be issued with those cards are not required to provide an affidavit from the Commissioners of Oath if they are over 18 years old. This is a very expensive exercise which some youths cannot afford. In fact, most youths, for reasons beyond their control, have been unable to obtain identity cards and yet, they are 20 years old and over. Those people cannot afford fare and the money charged by the Commissioners of Oath. In fact, some of them have decided not to apply for the national identity cards. The youth will benefit if this requirement is waived and many of them will apply for national identity cards. We shall also have more Kenyans registering as voters. Some of the youth have been unable to secure jobs because they do not have the national identity cards. On liberalization, I urge those concerned to be a bit careful because we can see many foreigners with an interest in Kenya buying public companies. The Kenyan economy will be taken over by foreigners, unless that process is controlled. Many foreigners are out to buy Kenyan companies, such as parastatals which are being sold. I feel that Kenyans should be given the first priority. On the manufacturing sector, I urge all hon. Members to put special effort in the industrial sector. They can do this by using part of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to support this sector. This can be done through capacity building so that the youth and women groups are educated on how to be involved in value addition to our commodities and produce. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on exchange rates, although I am not an economist, I really do not know whether when the shilling appreciates, that is a loss to Kenyans or not. However, I tend to believe that we have more imports into this country than exports. If the shilling appreciates and we import goods, we are likely to give less than if it depreciates. So, I advocate for a stronger shilling. We have many parents who have students abroad. Those parents send money abroad every other day. The more the shilling appreciates, the less foreign currency those parents and other Kenyans will send abroad. Sometimes, I wonder whether we are supporting this economy or we have a tendency of April 5, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 351 killing it. When we have leaders supporting demonstrations to sabotage Government programmes, we really do not know whether such leaders support the economic development of Kenya or they are against it. Sometimes, we wonder whether some of the things we do as leaders are not for our personal and partisan gains and not for the general good of Kenyans."
}