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{
    "id": 386469,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/386469/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 169,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "content": "counties have been marginalized. However, a lot of work has been done. The President even confirmed that what was done in the past, particularly during the previous Government led by His Excellency the former President, Mwai Kibaki, would continue to be done and finalized. So, it is worthwhile to note that roads have been developed. There are people who talk about the Thika Super Highway. It is true that it is a super highway, but it does not only lead to a particular region. It is a super highway that opens up the Nairobi Metropolitan. Whether you are coming from North Eastern, Eastern or wherever, you will pass through that road. That road is good. We should appreciate that it has been developed. It was just yesterday that I rose on a point of order, when the Senator for Machakos, Sen. Muthama, said that there is no tarmac road from Tala to Thika. Yesterday, I drove from Masinga to Tala and Thika on a super road. I also noted that there is another road to Mwingi and Garissa. That is development. We do not need to say that it is not happening when we know that things are happening. It is improper for a Senator to come here and tell falsehoods. We know that infrastructural development in this country has been given priority all over. I have been to places and know that there is a road from Kisumu to Busia. I also know that there is a road from Busia to Nambale. I know of the road from Nakuru to Eldoret and the one from Makutano to Kisumu. There is also the Kisumu International Airport. So, when somebody says that nothing has been developed in the last several years, that is misleading this House. We need guidance from the Speaker. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, some Senators claim their counties are marginalized. They have been claiming this for the last 50 years. We are now going to enter into another decade of ten years because you never know what may happen. The President is supposed to serve two terms. By good luck, it is likely that he will be there for the two terms. So, if he will be there for two terms, then for 60 years certain counties will still claim to be marginalized whereas now we have devolution in place. It is up to us to demonstrate that we are capable and able to turn around what has not been turned around. We should make hay while the sun shines. This is our time. We have seen quite a number of counties; when given a chance, they can move faster than others. I reckon one time when the founding father of this nation went to Mombasa and he was asked by the people at the coast to provide them with tractors to clear the bushe, he told them that he would give them “tractors” within a week. True to his promise, within a week the “tractors” were taken there. Up to now, where those “tractors” continue to plough, the GDP is higher than the neighbouring areas. That tells you that anything is possible. We should make maximum use of what we have. Land is a factor of production. Unless we turn that land to be a factor of production, there is nothing we are going to generate from it. We are also not going to get foreign exchange and unemployment rate will be high. We should blame ourselves also as we blame the Government. 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."
}