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"speaker_name": "Mr. Hassan",
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"legal_name": "Yusuf Hassan Abdi",
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"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to contribute to the President’s Statement which he delivered to the House. First of all, I thank him for his succinct, informative and highly relevant Address. I would like to say that we should give the President his dues. He has done a remarkable job in terms of economic development and infrastructure. The other areas that I would like to compliment him for is his efforts in the East African Community (EAC), where he is playing an important role to create regional integration, which is an important aspect of our role in African and world affairs. It is imperative that we speedily pass the pending important legislations that will entrench and deepen our democracy. This will not only enhance the credibility of this august House, but will also raise public respect to our political institutions. I would also like to applaud the Government, and especially the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), for a job well done in the collection of our national revenue. It has raised it from Kshs200 billion to Kshs700 billion. This is a phenomenal achievement and they deserve our congratulations. Only through the effective collection of revenue can we meet our development needs. Only then will we be able to banish the culture of “kuomba kuomba” and become less dependent on foreign aid and become a truly Independent country. This is something that we should emphasize as a nation; a nation that does not meet its development needs is not truly sovereign. We also need to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of those resources. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would also like to complement the President on his Statement on the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) that the Government is allocating the necessary resources to resettle. We should do this with speed and I ask the relevant Ministries to implement this particular project, so that we get rid of the crisis that is facing those people who were displaced during the 2008 crisis. I would also like to urge the Government not to forget the refugees. We have refugees who fled from Kenya to neighbouring Uganda. It is important that the Government should also make them part of the resettlement programme, so that they can benefit, return home and become productive citizens. I would like to go back to the point of the EAC. I know the President is a Pan- Africanist and he is playing his role. I think he should put whatever effort is needed in that area to ensure that all these policies, mechanisms and legislations are in place for an East African Federation. I would like to see a united East Africa in my lifetime, and I think the President has done a remarkable job towards that particular goal. I would like to commend the role of our forces in defending our borders and the job they are doing. With respect to human rights, I am happy that our forces have not been accused of any wrongdoing or violation of human rights in the campaigns that they are carrying out in Somalia. I would also like to emphasize the President’s Statement that at the end of the day, it will be up to the Somalis to find a peaceful settlement to their crisis. I think Kenya can play a positive role by helping the Somali people to reach a compromise and have a peaceful resolution to their problem. We should not be seen to be supporting one side against another. We should not be a partisan force in the Somali crisis. We should play a balanced and a constructive role that will help the security of Kenya as well as peace and stability in Somalia. I would also like to commend the Government for the role it is playing in the current crisis between the two Sudans; the Republic of Sudan and South Sudan. I would like to remind our two neighbours that it is in their best interests to find a peaceful solution to their problems. Nothing can be gained by war. These parts of our region have been at war for so long and their people have suffered for so long. It is now time for them to find a peaceful solution to their problems. I think the Government should do whatever is necessary to stop the conflict between the two sisterly states in our region. Coming to the question of oil, I would like to complement what has been said by the “Sheikh” of Turkana South, where huge quantities of oil have been found. I would like to echo the statement made by my colleagues here, that it is imperative that the oil is used for the benefit of the people of Kenya. In particular, we should have a policy in which part of the oil revenue is used for socio-economic development of the people of Turkana. This is because without their development, there cannot be peace and stability in that particular area. Having complemented the President, I would like to say that there were omissions. I am disappointed that the President did not address the critical issue of social justice and equity, and in particular, the issue of growing poverty in our country and more so in urban centres. People constantly speak about the problems in rural areas. It is not that I am insensitive to the problem of rural areas but there is growing poverty in our urban centres. There is also hidden hunger in our urban centres. I can speak for those people in some of the urban areas in Nairobi who were affected by the high cost of living; the high cost of unga, sukari and mafuta . I think we need a policy on social justice and equity to uplift the standards of living of those people who have been affected by the economic crisis that we are facing. While it is true that our country is making great strides economically, at the same time, with this economic growth, we see poverty, inadequate housing, lack of basic health facilities, lack of clean drinking water and food insecurity in our capital city. Some few metres from our National Assembly, there are people who have no shelter and do not know where their next meal will come from. I think it is important that the Government pays special emphasis to the issue of social justice and equity. We have made some remarkable legislation. We have a new Constitution and we now have our democracy on a solid ground. However, I think it is important for our Government to focus on the next frontier which is that of social justice and equity. I think there are women and children who live with hunger in our urban centres. In terms of infrastructure, there are economic hubs like in Kamukunji which is my constituency. With the recent rains, many of the roads in Kamukunji are flooded. You cannot cross First Avenue in Eastleigh on foot. You need a mkokoteni to take you across because the roads is like a lake. While we are applauding the Government for the major infrastructural development that has been carried out in our capital city and in other parts of our country, we must also look at the gaps that exist. Many roads in areas like Gikomba and Muthurwa are impassable. Yesterday, when I left this House to go home, it took me three hours to get there because of the serious congestion and traffic crisis that exists. My constituency, in particular, which has three trading hubs, suffers from lack of infrastructure in terms of roads and health centres. The school facilities have fallen apart and we are doing what should be done through the CDF but this is not enough. I think the Government should look into those areas to ensure that we have equity and equal development throughout our country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to conclude by thanking the President and encouraging Government Departments to implement those important decisions that he has brought to the attention of this House. Thank you very much."
}