Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 254814,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/254814/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 312,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Dahir",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 259,
        "legal_name": "Dahir Sheikh Abdullahi",
        "slug": "dahir-abdullahi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity 312 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 4, 2006 to contribute to the President's Speech. I would like to start by thanking His Excellency the President for the excellent exposition of public policy he gave to this House. The intention of His Excellency the President is always good. In December last year, when we were hit by famine in the northern part of Kenya the President had to cut short his holiday to travel to North Eastern Province, Wajir and Mandera, where he gave a lot of promises. He went there with the Minister for Water and Irrigation, the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development and other Ministers including Mr. Michuki. Some issues were raised by the area Members of Parliament, which the Ministers appeared to have approved, but it appears that it was all hot air because none of those proposals have been implemented. The northern part of Kenya is a marginalised area which has had triple tragedy starting from President Kenyatta's era, President Moi's era up to date. That region has not been developed. I believe the President had good intentions, but I doubt the Ministers who were there. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development told us that abattoirs would be constructed very soon in northern Kenya. The mainstay of the economy of northern Kenya is livestock. To date, the abattoirs have not been built. In the presence of the President, the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development said he would bring money to buy the weak animals from the people of northern Kenya. That did not happen. A small amount of money was sent through the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) and they did the opposite. They did not buy the weak animals; they bought strong animals. In Lagdera Constituency, the ADC sent a signal to my people asking them to bring animals so that they could buy them. This signal was sent through the police, the District Commissioner's office and the District Officer's office. Then the people brought over 2,000 animals. Surprisingly, nobody was there to buy those animals. In the end, the animals became weak and died there. To date, we have not been told what happened; by the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development. I am requesting the Minister to respond to this plight and compensate those people who lost their animals. People brought over 2,000 head of cattle. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as if that is not enough the education standards in our area are very poor. There is a donor who went to see the President in State House. He donated US$1.5 million which is equivalent to Kshs36 million. To date, we do not know how that money was used. It was kept in a bank account and it earned interest. Recently, we saw the Vice-President and Minister for Home Affairs touring the area. I would say that my constituency received only Kshs300,000. That money was meant to improve the standard of education in the northern part of Kenya. This is not Kenya Government money. It was donated by a donor by the name of Prince Talal Alwahi Bin Abdul-Aziz Ala-Saud. We always talk about corruption. If the people at the top are corrupt---"
}