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{
    "id": 282372,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/282372/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 277,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kiilu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 45,
        "legal_name": "Peter L. N. Kiilu",
        "slug": "peter-kiilu"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to join the other hon. Members in commending the President’s Speech in which he covered quite a number of issues of national interest. While commenting on the President’s Speech, I would like, first of all, to say that during his term we have seen massive expansion of education facilities. He has made sure that most of our people access education, particularly higher education. The only thing of concern is that at the primary and secondary school level, disbursement of funds and bursaries has been slow. This is an area where this Government could do better. A lot of praise has been heaped on the President with regard to infrastructure development. While this is so, one would easily observe that it is regionally based, and there are areas in this country where people, since Independence, have continued to pray that the Government looks at their infrastructural needs, particularly in the construction of roads. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when you go to the southern and the north eastern regions of this country, you will appreciate that these people need to be assisted. There is need to upgrade the roads in those areas so that the legacy of the President can also be covered in those areas. If the President went to those areas today, very little would be said about what we are seeing in Nairobi and other areas in this country. I am seeing the Minister for Roads here. When I was elected four years ago, a bridge was done in my constituency. However, to date, that bridge is not used. A beam bridge was put up to connect Makindu and Kathonzweni District in my constituency. That bridge is not useful and yet the Ministry has continuously said that it is looking for money. This will remain part of the legacy of a white elephant if the Ministry does not move in and complete the bridge. On a more serious note, the President talked about security. However, every other day, we raise issues of increased incidences of insecurity in this country and we get assurance that all is well. In the President’s Speech, one issue that has been nagging me, that I did not hear him address, is on the police reforms. If we want to have a good election, and our people to have confidence in the management of security in this country and in the coming general election, we need to complete, as a matter of urgency, police reforms so that the necessary structures are put in place before the next elections. I would have wished to hear the President address this issue. What measures has the Government taken as a matter of national interest in addressing the issue of police reforms? You have noted in the last one month that this country has witnessed massive destruction of our infrastructure. However, I did not hear the President address the issue of disaster management and preparedness. Many of our people have seen massive infrastructure destruction. We have also seen our people drown. Is it difficult for this Government to plan how this water which has destroyed our infrastructure and washed our people away to the Indian Ocean can be harvested in dams? Can the Government not come up with dams along our rivers so that the water harnessed and harvested can be used for irrigation purposes so that it becomes useful instead of destroying our environment and killing our people? These are areas I thought the Presidential Address should have highlighted so that this water is used to enhance food security. The Government should build dams in this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to support the President’s Speech as I wind up."
}