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{
    "id": 306163,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/306163/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 249,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kimunya",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Transport",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 174,
        "legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
        "slug": "amos-kimunya"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, just to re- emphasize the matter of development, we are not delaying the development of the airport. When I went to the Ministry, the only development that was taking place at the airport was just the reconfiguration of the existing terminal. I do recall that during the opening of one of the sessions of Parliament, you challenged us yourself that we needed to do something at the airport. I took that airport and we said that we needed to look beyond the reconfiguration. Therefore, we decided that we should do a brand new terminal. Therefore, I am at the heart of ensuring that we actually get the best terminal for this country; but the way it was being handled, people took that as an opportunity to short- circuit the procurement process to achieve a totally different outcome from what we wanted. Since this matter is huge and I have much more documentation than is here, I would rather we deal with it through the Committee on Transport, Public Works and Housing. I would be happy to work with them or whatever other committee would want to look at it so that Kenyans would eventually know the truth. I can tell you that we are committed to ensuring that the development of the Nairobi airport is undertaken. We have started the process of ensuring that we break the ground before the end of this year, notwithstanding this process. That is the assurance I want to give to the House. We cannot be held to ransom by one contractor when we want to make progress in the development of the airport. We have already put in place measures to ensure that the airport is developed and a new terminal comes up. Grand breaking takes place before the end of the year at a better value than what was tabled here. Regarding what Mr. Linturi said about why these things seem to be getting into trouble, when you speak the truth and defend public good, you step on so many toes and corruption has a way of fighting back. I can tell you that this is one typical case where people feel that what they expected is not coming their way; they are fighting back. They will continue fighting back but I will continue fighting them for the public good."
}