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"id": 3969,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mrs. Odhiambo-Mabona",
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"speaker": {
"id": 376,
"legal_name": "Millie Grace Akoth Odhiambo Mabona",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this Motion. First, I want to thank hon. Otichillo. Hon. Otichillo is always bringing very good Motions in this House that contribute to the development of this country; this is yet again one of those Motions that speak about issues of the concern to ordinary Kenyans. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to note that one of the primary aims of the information system that is set is to help in planning. I want to speak very specifically about that. In this country, we behave as though we plan by accident. I do not know whether we still have a Ministry of Planning and whether it knows that in other countries people actually plan. It is very embarrassing to see a country where buildings come up and then we look for roads through these buildings. I do not know which miracles we hope to perform. We try and look for where the sewer and other systems will pass once the buildings are in place. I have contributed before in this House about experiences I have had in other countries like Botswana. At one time, we saw a whole field that was very nicely demarcated; we asked what it was all about and we were shown roads, poles for power and systems for water; after that planning, then people could build houses. However, in Kenya, we just build and then try and figure out where the roads will be. After we have done that, we go and attack poor and innocent Kenyans who have worked hard, who do not want to steal, who are not corrupt and we pull down their houses, because they built them on a road reserve. Where was the Government when they were building on a road reserve? Was the Ministry asleep? Really, if it was up to me, I would have disbanded that Ministry and created a new one with new people, who can take their work more seriously. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this country has many young people who are looking for jobs, and who can do excellent work. That is why I am very happy with the Motion that hon. Otichillo has brought here. It will force the planners to effectively plan, so that when we need all the information on planning, then you can actually google and see that where I want to build, according to the Government system, is actually a road reserve, a game park or a place that was designed for children to play on. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, one other reason why I think this Motion is very important is because it will enable us to reduce corruption. In this country whenever you want to get information from any Ministry, whether it is the Ministry of Lands or that of Immigration and Registration of Persons, that information is not readily available unless you are willing to part with a lot of money and this is so across the whole country. If you want to get information about your own land, you cannot get it because corrupt officials will not let you get that information. Now when we have this system, it will ensure that all the information is, as provided in the Constitution, availed at the click of a button. This will reduce corruption because a computer does not ask for a bribe. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in concluding, I want to say that I am happy that it will also facilitate the inclusion of marginalised groups in the development of this country, because it will give us information about gender and development. It will give us information about security, tourism and areas with potential for tourism like Mbita Constituency. Mbita Constituency is a place with a lot of potential for tourism. It is a place that has a lot of potential for development, but because this information is not readily available, then even investors cannot go there. This is information that is kept as a secret. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to thank the hon. Member and I duly support the Motion. I would want to tell the Government that we should not stop here. Once we support and pass this Motion, the Committee on Implementation should follow up and ensure that it is implemented within the life of this Parliament. With those few remarks, I support."
}