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"speaker_name": "Mr. Njuguna",
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"legal_name": "Peter Njuguna Gitau",
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"content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, for the chance to contribute to this critical Appropriation Bill. Let me start by thanking the Minister for his steadfast co-operation and harmony with the Budget Committee. This is good for the Ministry to continue functioning properly and for the issues that affect the lives of Kenyans to be addressed well. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, on security, it is important that security matters in this country be addressed critically. Currently we have the threats from the terrorists and this is scaring investment in this country. Interfering with investment is like compounding the issue of unemployment in this country. It is, therefore, important that foreign countries do not continue to meddle with the security matters of this country. Recently, we noted the US Government issuing an advisory. This advisory was not important because our armed forces and security agents are fully alert on the ground. The Ministry of Defence should be able to defend the territorial borders of this country so that unnecessary elements do not come to interfere with peace in this country. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, on roads, they were destroyed recently by the heavy rains. Bridges were swept away and it is therefore important that the Ministry of Roads comes out very quickly with the allocated funds to make sure that our roads are redone, rehabilitated and restored to the required conditions. It is important to note that our engineers on these roads are completely asleep. On the kind of works that we see on our roads, the quality is highly questionable and I recall a road that was done in Lari Constituency. This is a 65 kilometre road from Uplands to Githunguri. This road connects three constituencies and when it was done, within three months the road had deteriorated. It even became worse than it was before. So, the quality of works by the engineers and supervision must be enhanced. We should not allow rain water collected in this country to go to waste. Therefore, it is important that we do our roads well. I would also urge the Ministers to make sure that our towns are decongested. They are doing well in constructing new roads in Nairobi but we need to see the same in Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret and Nakuru so that road transport is improved. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, on the Ministry of Agriculture, we have had floods in this country and we have seen toilets in our schools destroyed. We have seen homes, tea plantations and other crops destroyed. So, it is important that the Ministry of Agriculture comes to the rescue of these sectors. Tea farms in Lari Constituency and mainly in Gatamaiyu were swept away. So, it is important that the Minister answers the distress and the predicament my constituents find themselves in and even in other areas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be given more money because at times we have seen citizens of this country who have gone overseas to look for jobs passing on. When they are in that state, we are not able to have the bodies brought back home. There are other situations where Kenyans are in dire need of assisting Kenyans. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been starved of allocation of funds. Therefore, it is important that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sets aside some funds to make sure that Kenyans who are afflicted by these problems are brought home well. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I also wish to note that we have our diplomats in certain countries who work very well. I recall I visited our UNESCO representative and I was impressed. He is really performing well and improving the image of the country. This is really good. I also visited Zambia and Dr. Cheruiyot is also representing the image of this country and addressing the plight of Kenyans in that country. On medical services, I note that our hospitals require vehicles, nurses and doctors. Therefore, this Ministry is the most critical Ministry that should have been given more money because the nation that does not invest in the health of its people, its future is doomed. Therefore, the cry by the Minister for Medical Services is genuine and allocating Kshs1 billion is like a drop in the ocean. Therefore, I urge the Minister to explore all ways possible to make sure that this Ministry is given more funds. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, recently there have been issues raised by hon. Members in this House concerning those people who have died at Kenyatta National Hospital whose families cannot afford to take their bodies. This Ministry must be given more money and the available resources should be put into good use. On the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, this is a key Ministry and I cannot commend it because it has not done much in my constituency. We should be seeing some dams and irrigation schemes in my constituency. For the last 47 years we have not seen anything. I urge the Ministry to be serious and make sure that we have a sewerage system in Kimende Town which is the headquarters of my constituency. We cannot allow our people to have their waste going into the nearby rivers. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, concerning the Ministry of Lands, this is a key Ministry that has not been well funded. We still have people who are coming from the emergency villages. There are people today living on the roadsides and others in slums. These people should have been given more funds. They should enjoy the freedom like other Kenyans. The Motion for the freedom fighters was passed in this Parliament. They should see the benefit of their labour. Their labour is being enjoyed by other Kenyans and this should have been addressed. Concerning the Ministry of Education, the Minister has handled the issues concerning the free primary education well. I urge the Minister to make sure that our students, parents and even teachers do not necessarily go on strikes. Therefore, releasing these funds in good time will also help. Our teachers must be paid well. Our teachers must have their salary review done well and even our lecturers at the university should be considered. Concerning the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), a project that has been on for the last 24 years must be completed to enhance security. In conclusion, I would urge the Minister to continue working tirelessly and to make sure that all Ministries are called to make sure that no impunity, misappropriation or embezzlement of funds will be realized in all these Ministries so that Kenyans will be happy. With those few remarks, I fully support."
}