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"id": 255302,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/255302/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Ms. Mwau",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Labour and Human Resource Development",
"speaker": {
"id": 360,
"legal_name": "Adelina Ndeto Mwau",
"slug": "adelina-mwau"
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"content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, before I was interrupted, I was saying that there is need for long term strategies to deal with the issue of drought. On the arid and semi arid (ASAL) areas, we are tired of getting relief food year in, year out. There is need to put in mechanisms to get water for irrigation. We need to do more on rain harvesting. All the big rivers; Athi and Tana Rivers, pass through Ukambani and there is, therefore, no reason why it should not be the buttress of this country. We are hard working and it is important that since the Minister for Water and Irrigation comes from Ukambani, this is his time. However, this is not to say that he should only concentrate in Ukambani but he should see that we have water so that we deal with the issue of famine. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources needs to put in place mechanisms to curtail deforestation. Our environment has been degraded to an extent that our soils cannot sustain water. It is, therefore, important that this Ministry educates Kenyans on the need to protect forests and plant trees. People have cultivated near water wells and encroached the water catchments, no wonder we have no water. The Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources should come up with laws and strategies to protect our water wells. The President talked about the youth. It is important because 70 per of the population in this country is the youth. They are the leaders of today. They are no longer the leaders of tomorrow. It is, therefore, important to protect this sizeable population. They are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, particularly young girls who are lured into having sex by older men. They believe that if they sleep with a virgin, they will be cured of the HIV/AIDS. It is important that we protect our youth and especially young girls. I am appalled because, in the last recruitment that was conducted by the Kenya Armed Forces, only one woman was recruited against 12 men. How did the young women who went for that exercise 204 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES March 29, 2006 feel? They turned out in good numbers but only one woman was recruited after every 12 men. That is unjust and unfair. We want the Sessional Paper on Gender and Equity to come to this House, so that we can address some of those issues. We will ensure equitable distribution of resources between men and women. There will no longer be jobs for men and jobs for women. What men can do, women can do better. I want to talk about corruption. I would like to thank the President for appointing Ms. Karua the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs. You can see how things are now moving. There are over 150 corruption cases in court. I request her to move quickly and ensure that those cases are concluded. We want our money back! Kenyans are sick of Anglo-Leasing. Kenyans are sick of Goldenberg. Kenyans are sick of corruption! It is being politicised! Kenyans want their money back. We are asking Ms. Karua to move in quickly and ensure that, that money is brought back. That way, our people who are suffering without food can have it. Past, present and future corruption must be dealt with. We do not want those caught in corrupt activities to bring in the tribal angle. We are saying: \"When you participated in corruption and \"ate\" the money, you were not doing so with your tribe. You were \"eating\" alone!\" So, justice must be done. There is no need of making corruption a tribal issue. It is important that justice is done very fast. We are sick of the Goldenberg Scandal year in, year out. It needs to be concluded. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to thank the President for appointing me an Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Human Resource Development. I am in charge of manpower development. I am not only in charge of men, I am also in charge of women-power. About 80 per cent of subsistence farming in this country is done by women. I do not agree to be in charge of manpower only. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when the Sessional Paper on Gender Equity is brought to this House, we shall change our slogan; \"For the Welfare of Society and just Government of Men\", to, \"For the Welfare of Society and just Government of Men and Women\"! Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am in charge of a very lucrative department - the Jua Kali sector. It employs over 500,000 people and contributes about 18 per cent of our economy. It accounts for 74 per cent of the jobs that are created annually. It is one of the departments that the Government needs to revamp. We require new technology. Land set aside for Jua Kali artisans has been grabbed. There is need for the Government to look at the Ndung'u Report and ensure that land belonging to Jua Kali artisans is returned to them. There is also need for the Government to increase money given to that sector. That is one sector that, if it is well managed, can deal with the problem of unemployment in this country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, I encourage the team that was appointed by the President to look at the constitutional review process to go ahead with their work. Let us give them support. We have politicised the issue of Constitution making. We have even created myths about the new Constitution. There were people who went around the country telling men and women that, if the new Constitution was passed, women would go back to their homes and demand for land---"
}