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"id": 254811,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/254811/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dr. Machage",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Health",
"speaker": {
"id": 179,
"legal_name": "Wilfred Gisuka Machage",
"slug": "wilfred-machage"
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I would like to be on record, as an hon. Member of this House, in giving thanks for the Presidential Address. Indeed, His Excellency has demonstrated to this country for the few years he has been in reign, his desire to expand the space of democracy, a situation that has been abused, especially by politicians. It is important, as politicians, for us to define what space we politic in because politics interfere with economic development. I believe that in a young democracy, there has to be some little level of dictatorship, because some people do not understand the definition of democracy. Therefore, they tend to abuse it. That must be checked at all times so that the country does not go into a deep quagmire of unnecessary fights and wars. Our economic growth has certainly improved to a level of 5 per cent in the last three years. Considering that we were at the verge of economic decline to negative one before the NARC Government took over power, this is a positive on His Excellency the President's way of leading April 4, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 307 this nation. It is, therefore, prudent that when we are given democratic space, we desist from destroying it. In the last few days, we have had many patriots in this House stating their desires to be presidents of this country. As a politician, you are like a non-confidential letter. Everyone reads you. The question is: What sort of a letter are you? Some of the people who have declared their presidential desires are far much below Kenyans' expectations. There are many people who are statesmen out there, yet they are quiet. The important thing is not to rush into leadership, but to be wise and know that this is our country. Say what is necessary at the right time so that we can move on well. Kenya has seen a lot of development in terms of education, as stated by His Excellency the President. Indeed, I congratulate him for his politics. However, I would request that the Department of Adult Education that is currently under the Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services is moved back to the Ministry of Education so that all education matters are administered from one Ministry. There is a lot of desire to see the department take its part in the development of the intelligence and academic building of the people of this country. Using the machineries in the Ministry of Education, we would have better supervision, inspection and better determination of making a curriculum that can benefit the people of this country. The Ministry of Education was allocated a lot of money in the last Budget. We expect that, that will continue to enhance the development of education in the areas of this country that were left behind due to historical factors. We expect, indeed, to follow His Excellency the President's policies by requesting the Ministry of Education to skew its employment to the forgotten areas of this country. Let us have affirmative action, and especially in the recruitment of teachers. In Kuria District, the area I come from, there are no teachers. We cannot compete with the rest of this country in an examination system which is set at a level that other areas will never catch up. Marginalised communities should be given affirmative action to catch up with the rest of Kenya in academic development. That includes enrolment and admission to state universities and other middle-level colleges. We do not expect a child who has never seen a golf course to be examined on the same and have the same marks with a child in Nairobi who has always seen a golf course. Agriculture is the mainstay of our economic development. Unfortunately, this has been forgotten in some way. But we thank the Government for the stand it has taken in the last three years, to enhance production by encouraging improvement of prices of commodities, especially maize. Farmers are now able to produce maize. If they sell it at a good price, the scarcity of food we have had in the last few years will be checked. Indeed, in Kuria District, we have taken farming seriously and we now produce a lot of food. The only problem we have is lack of markets. Whereas the northern part of Kenya lacks food, some districts have excess food and they require markets to sell their produce at good prices. Therefore, the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) should really check on this issue of distribution of food so that we do not have a situation whereby there is great famine. What I think is lacking is proper distribution modalities. Last year, we had a food reserve that was below the 32 million bags required to feed Kenyans per year. However, during that last season, I think we had about 34 million bags which ought to have been enough to feed all Kenyans in this country. Distribution should be given more emphasis. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, development is usually appreciated when people have good power supply. We are happy that Kenyans have responded well in buying the KenGen shares which are being advertised now. We hope that the public money that is being collected now by KenGen will be used to the benefit of our people in terms of rural electrification. It is the desire of every Kenyan to have electricity in his house. We do not want to see a situation where millions of money belonging to people are collected and kept only to be misappropriated by the clever ones. Primary health care is of paramount importance in this country. In other countries; for 308 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 4, 2006 example, in the Pacific countries, they have announced the complete eradication of LymphaticSclerosis . This is what causes elephantiasis. We have a lot of cases of this disease in our country. We can eradicate this disease by simply giving victims a dose of deworming medicine once every year for five years. This deworming exercise should be emphasised in this country because it is cheap. In fact, it costs less than 4 cents a dose per person. We should also strive to be in the class of countries that have eliminated some of these diseases. Malaria, for example, is still a scourge in this country and so are many other diseases. We are happy with the education programme of giving every school child deworming medicine, therefore, enhancing their ability to absorb every nutrient necessary for their growth. Supply of clean water, good housing and provision of other basic needs will reduce the cost of operation in the Ministry of Health that is incurred in secondary medical care; that is, the real treatment of diseases once people have been affected. Everybody in this country should shoulder this responsibility. It should be a responsibility even for Members of the Opposition. Instead of us leaders talking and singing loudly on issues that are of no use to the common mwananchi in this country, let us all unite to fight poverty. Let us supply water to every Kenyan and fight diseases. That is the only way Kenyans will understand that we care for them. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those remarks, I beg to support."
}