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{
    "id": 255606,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/255606/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 271,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Ndwiga",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Co-operative Development and Marketing",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 278,
        "legal_name": "Peter Njeru Ndwiga",
        "slug": "peter-ndwiga"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity to support the Motion on the Presidential Speech. On the outset, I would like to say that I concur with the tone set by the Leader of the Official Opposition that in this House, we should be more concerned with reconciliation. This country looks upon this House to give guidance. While that is so, it is, therefore, very disheartening when you listen to hon. Members who want to contradict the speech given by His Excellency the President. Any Kenyan who has not seen the strides made by this Government in the last three years must be living elsewhere. He must be living in Mars and not in this country. It is true that there are many challenges facing this country. The Government faces very March 28, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 119 many challenges but we have achieved a lot in the last three years. There is not a single living person who, honestly, can stand on his feet and say that they have not seen what this Government has done in the last three years. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, listening to Mr. ole Ntimama, who said that the figures being given are fake, I wish to invite him and because he is also a pastoralist, I will talk about only one item; cows and milk, a subject which I am sure he will understand. In the last three years, the milk production in this country has increased by 137 per cent. The dairy sector alone has created many employment opportunities for our people and Mr. ole Ntimama ought to thank this Government for doing just that. However, we are hearing contrary things. If he wants, I can give him actual figures because we are not a Government that just merely talks. We are a Government that performs! In the last three years, we have seen the revival of 541 moribund co-operatives. What does that mean in terms of employment, income generation and creating wealth for Kenyans? I would expect that a reasonable Opposition would, first of all, start by thanking this Government for pushing Kenya to where it is. Indeed, what do we expect of an Opposition? Hon. Members of the Official Opposition in Parliament are Members of Parliament elected by Kenyans just like everybody else in this House. We expect all hon. Members to show decorum. We expect Members in this House to use reconciliatory tones. That is because whatever happens, all of us are in the same boat. It does not matter whether you are in the Opposition or in the Government. We are talking about the same country. However, I am extremely saddened by the statement made by my friend, Mr. ole Ntimama. As leaders, we cannot whip up ethnic emotions all the time! It is absolutely sad. There is no national leader worth his salt who would stand in this House and whip up ethnic emotions."
}