HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 254812,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/254812/?format=api",
"text_counter": 310,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Biwott",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 321,
"legal_name": "Nicholas Kiprono Kipyator Biwott",
"slug": "nicholas-biwott"
},
"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I would like to take a bearing from what His Excellency the President said in his Presidential Address in this House. The most important thing that we need to do is to address covenant issues in order to enhance the social wellbeing of our people. That being the case, it means that, we hon. Members of Parliament, need to ensure that we are united and able to build an environment that is conducive for investment. That is the only way we can ensure the wellbeing of our people. We need to distribute resources equitably for the wellbeing of our people everywhere in our country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the figures that the President read to us with regard to the number of investors who have so far come to our country is very impressive. The amount of money that we got as a result of that is said to be Kshs5.3 billion in 2004, and Kshs10.5 billion in the course of last year. This is highly commendable. However, if you look at the benefits that accrued from this money and if you look at the way our country is today, it means that we need to do a lot more to ensure that the benefits accruing from foreign investors are felt throughout the country. To be able to do that, we need to behave as Kenyans and look at Kenya as one country. When addressing the issues that affect the wellbeing of our people, we need to work together in unison in order to achieve one common objective, which is to improve the welfare of our people. That, in itself, necessitates dialogue. If we have dialogue and our country in mind, we will be able to address most of the issues that affect our people. Today, the increase in foreign investment in our country only benefits a small percentage of Kenyans. If you travel through our country, you will realise that poverty is great and is still on the increase. That is reflected from the figures that we get from surveys done by the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) Committees. Every year, there is a growing number of people below the poverty line. That is where we need to assert ourselves as leaders, so that we can reduce poverty and increase food production. However, food alone is not enough without water and shelter. If you look at the lives of the poor, you will surely pity them. I have been travelling around the countryside to see how poverty is affecting our people. They do not have money. In fact, for most of them, getting even Kshs100 is not an easy thing. So, when it comes to addressing some of the social ills or eyesores that we see--- I have an example of kiosk owners who so often are evicted, and yet they have absolutely nothing. In fact, there is always no alternative plan to ensure that their sufferings are minimised. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, also look at the issue of squatters living in forest areas April 4, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 309 in this country. It is true that they could affect the environment, but these people are willing to move, only that the poverty they are faced with is so much and painful. If you see a child crying, it really hurts. So, such an issue really requires a humane approach if it is to be handled properly. Concerning distribution of food, you realise that there is famine and hunger in some parts of this country, and yet there is plenty of food in the others. I come from an agricultural area in this country where I see lines of so many truck-loads of foodstuff such as wheat, maize and vegetables for sale. However, when you look at North Eastern Province, you will see that people are suffering because of hunger. That shows that there is something that is fundamentally wrong in planning with regard to distribution of food and the execution of those plans. What it means is that the administration of food distribution and security is not adequate. So, there is need for effective planning which will enable whatever is available to be shared throughout the country so that people can live comfortably. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, poor roads affect the speedy distribution of food in famine-stricken areas. In such a situation, a lot of co-ordination efforts are required so that food can be delivered to the affected areas. Roads in Kerio Valley, where the El Nino rains caused a lot of damage about four years ago, are still in bad shape and so the distribution of food is still hampered. This dichotomy that exists between those who only survive with the little that is available to them and those who are actually enjoying the growth of our economy needs to be addressed. Indeed, we should give it more priority. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is also an element of importation of food. Before we import any food, we need to buy the food which is locally available and distribute it to the people. There is also the need to look at the long-term effects of drought and find ways on how to counter it. We should build more dams rather than boreholes. Boreholes and water pans dry up and have limited application. We are aware that famine recurs once every 20 years. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the only hope I saw in the President's Speech is the one about the Ministry of Youth Affairs and the Sessional Paper which is coming out soon. I really look forward to this because that is the only way we can tackle unemployment of our youth and also get a kind of a marshall plan to enable our country to deal with the problem of poverty and famine. Once again, I want to really commend His Excellency the President about this issue. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Minister for Trade and Industry spoke about the need to put more emphasis on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and also on trade within the region. But, of course, there is a symmetry problem which is currently affecting our industries within the East African Community. I think there is need to listen more to the business people, especially those who are adding value to our agricultural products. We need to commend the police for having done a wonderful job with limited resources. The Community Policing Forum (CPF) that has been introduced is very good, but it needs more money. I hope that the idea will be supported fully. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the question of agriculture, I think we need to dwell a lot more on value addition and high value crops. We also need to concentrate on the cultivation of cotton and the actual processing of whatever we produce in the agricultural sector. However, irrigation will be the long-term solution to our problems. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, funding to SMEs has been there for sometime. It was there when I was the Minister for Trade and Industry. I think it is about time that we requested, and I am requesting the Minister for Trade and Industry to issue a statement of affairs so that we can know exactly how much money we have got ever since that Fund was established, how that money has been distributed, who has benefitted, and where it is now. This will help us to know how to improve on it and in the process, benefit the country as a whole. Likewise, we need a similar statement from the Minister for Tourism on the Tourism Fund. The savings have been done very 310 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 4, 2006 well and the co-operative movement seems to have worked very well too. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the issue of the referendum, which divided this country, I would like to emphasize exactly what I said earlier on, that we need an Inter- Parliamentary Parties Group (IPPG) meeting here to be able to solve our differences. Talking about a constituent assembly will not help because this will amount to another Bomas Conference. The Kiplagat initiative is good because it will add value, but it is not 100 per cent necessary. With those few remarks, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to support."
}