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{
    "id": 385647,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/385647/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 49,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Njoroge",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13158,
        "legal_name": "Ben Njoroge",
        "slug": "ben-njoroge"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. This country is largely agricultural and majority of our citizens depend on agriculture for their day to day living. In the absence of proper infrastructure, even the basic needs of the people of this country would be suffering a major loss. Our farmers would be unable to get their produce even to the smallest market in their neighborhoods, leave alone at the national level. So, it is paramount for this Senate to implore and pass legislation to ensure that infrastructure is given first priority at county level to ensure that we have equitable and proper infrastructure in every corner of this country. Skewed as it is, in the Motion, I wish to submit that that does not mean preferential. Some of the counties, and I will give the example of my own county, Kiambu; maybe it is perceived to have an advantage in infrastructure but the reality is that Kiambu County suffers as much as any other county in this country. For example, some of the roads that may be perceived as benefitting the current generation of Kenyans, and in Kiambu particularly were done in the colonial era. As of now, what used to be tarmac is not tarmac anymore and it is even worse than the earth roads which were done later. So, it is important that as we deliberate on this Motion, we be careful not to create a new marginalized zone or marginalized counties by assuming and presuming that there are counties which have an advantage in the infrastructure that exist and thus skew the current agitation for roads to be done in every county. If we assume an approach which will create a new skewed region under the premise or assumption that the region already enjoys an advantage in infrastructure, then we will not be attaining the goal that we intend to attain as the Senate of ensuring that every county gets its proper share of the contribution of the central government. This Senate should ensure that infrastructure is distributed and encouraged countrywide in every county. Mr. Speaker, Sir, infrastructure is also key to revival of industries in every county. Most of our counties have unexploited natural resources. It would not be economical if indeed, the counties governments would take the initiative and exploit the national resources for the benefit and growth and then they be unable to get their produce to the intended market. Already we have factories which were established since Kenya gained Independence. Most of those factories have been closed down as of now. The reason why most of them were closed down is because the cost of production became so high and the 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."
}