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"id": 386216,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/386216/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Lesuuda",
"speaker_title": "April 24, 2013 SENATE DEBATES 11 The Nominated Senator",
"speaker": {
"id": 13122,
"legal_name": "Naisula Lesuuda",
"slug": "naisula-lesuuda"
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"content": " Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to give my comments on the Speech by His Excellency the President during the State Opening of the Eleventh Parliament. Before I do so, let me take this opportunity to congratulate all Kenyans for the manner that we behaved and how we conducted the elections peacefully. It showed that we have matured as a nation and learnt lessons from the past. We are a country that can be looked up to, not just in Africa, but the world over. Mr. Speaker, Sir, let me also congratulate His Excellency the President and the Deputy President for being elected and their assumption into office. Let me also congratulate the Deputy Speaker, the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader and the Chief Whips for their successful election. I cannot forget to congratulate my fellow Senators who went through a very rigorous campaign to be elected. They were elected and are now here to represent the electorate in their various counties. Let me also congratulate the nominated Senators. We know that the task ahead of us is not easy, but I know that we have the commitment. I will not forget to thank His Excellency the President and my party, The National Alliance, for nominating me to be among the Senators who are seated in this honourable House. Mr. Speaker, Sir, before I make my remarks, let me say that the President’s Address captured the real challenges that we face as a nation. Whether we say some statements were vague and broad, they captured the challenges that we face. He also gave possible solutions to those challenges that we face as a nation. It is up to us as the Senate, the Cabinet Secretaries and everybody else who has the responsibility of leadership to make sure that these solutions are put in place, once and for all. Let me also say that the task ahead of us is not easy, but nevertheless, we have to perform it. The President said that the clock is ticking and five years will soon come to the end. As the first Senate under this Constitution, people will be asking what we did and what we have to show for those five years. It does not matter whether you were in the opposition or in Government; you will be held accountable for the same reason that you are seated here this morning as a Senator. So, we really have to ask ourselves what we will have to show as the first sitting Senate under this Constitution. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I will pick a number of issues that are very key and close to my heart that the President talked about. We have to embark on a journey of ending marginalization, historical injustices, unemployment, insecurity and illiteracy. I heard my colleagues wondering aloud whether the development we saw in the last ten years touched on all parts of this country. We can argue about it in this Senate, but even His Excellency the President in his Address noted it. He said and I quote:- “While in the last ten years our country has seen major developments in our national infrastructure, too few Kenyans have seen the benefits in their day to day lives. It is time that all Kenyans shared in the fruits of our prosperity, and I will, therefore, bring forward Bills for consideration” What the President meant was that we have seen development in this country, but it has not touched as many people as we would want in this country. I will use Samburu County where I am a registered voter as an example. There has been not even a single kilometre of tarmac road since Independence. I am not able to reach home as fast as I could. By the way, Samburu is not very far; it is somewhere I can go to attend the county 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."
}