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"id": 382284,
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"content": "“This approach will clearly favour the development of areas having natural resources; good land, rainfall, transport and power facilities and people receptive to and active to development”. That is on page 46 of that little paper called Sessional Paper No.10 of 1965. That policy statement concentrated in areas where I have just mentioned. Northern Kenya and parts of the coastal region were left out. They were left out because there was no yield at that time which was considered of economic benefit. Madam Temporary Speaker, if you look at the Kenyan Geography, you will see that when the whitemen were moved from the northern side of Kenya, that is, Narok and Kajiado, they were taken northwards and parts of western and central Rift Valley. Those are the areas where economic roads had been done. That is where development was concentrated. So, when we stand here and condemn the past Government, we are justified because although they had their own problems at that time, immediately after Independence, we were not able to change the course in terms of infrastructure. Even if we give the police all the requirements, if there are no roads where cattle rustling and insecurity is rampant, areas which are completely impassable, making it impossible for the police to get there--- Therefore, we have to develop those areas; create new roads and also remember that the population has increased. The increase in population is also another big problem. Those areas should be opened up for the people to enjoy security and independent benefits because they fought for Independence with a purpose. Madam Temporary Speaker, there are some areas, for example, where I come from where, because of CDF, between 2003 and 2007, we were able to build 11 police posts. During that time and up to today, there is need for police posts. But even after putting up the buildings, nothing has changed. There are a lot of problems. But I think with a new policy which the Government is undertaking, maybe, there will be some change. It is up to the Senate as the people’s representatives to understand that even those in Government are not angels; they are just like us. Therefore, all of us have to remind them of their responsibility and remind ourselves of the responsibilities that we are supposed to undertake on behalf of the people of Kenya. There is need for a policy shift from developing infrastructure based on economic feasibility to security considerations. No meaningful economic development can take place amid insecurity. Therefore, there are specific areas that should be taken into account. Road networks connecting major roads and towns should be prioritized. For example, the road from Malindi to Tana River County to Garissa, the road through Tsavo East National Park, the road connecting Garissa to Modogashe to Wajir and Moyale, the road linking West Pokot, Baringo and Laikipia, the road linking Laikipia and Samburu counties and the road linking Isiolo and Samburu counties. It is commonsense for everyone that if a crime was committed and 50 people were killed, the police would not find the killers. This is then repeated in another year and the police are still not capable of using other facilities like helicopters owing to the unanimity of the expenditure to fight the crime. However, if we give enough money to the police so that they have small air fields all over the country, we will respond to such crimes when they are committed. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}