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{
    "id": 45426,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/45426/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 213,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Raila",
    "speaker_title": "The Prime Minister",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 195,
        "legal_name": "Raila Amolo Odinga",
        "slug": "raila-odinga"
    },
    "content": "I agree with hon. Baiya the Member for Githunguri, that times are hard. Hard times are, indeed, very difficult. These are times for frugality. They are times for belt tightening. We should curtail not just expenditure on trips but expenditure generally, so that we only deal with what is absolutely necessary. However, I hope the hon. Member will appreciate that, in the old days, when there was famine, people would travel to where there was food in abundance to ask for assistance. The world will not just come to Kenya’s assistance unless Kenya goes out to ask for assistance. That is why it is still necessary for Kenyans to continue to operate. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this country will not operate in this global world if we say: “We do not want our people to travel. It is wasteful for Members of Parliament and Ministers to travel. They are wasting public funds”, et cetera . We must do business and we do business by inviting people to come to Kenya and also going to their countries to engage with them. So, this Government must continue to work irrespective of the difficulties that we are experiencing at the moment. I am saying this because there has been a tendency all the time of portraying the trips being made by Government officials as leisure trips. I do not see it as pleasure. I see it as duty. In fact, it is punishing to travel, arrive at your destination and be in meetings throughout your stay. It is very strenuous. It is not a joyful thing. We do it because it is service to the country. On the issue raised by hon. Lessonet, I would like to confirm that I have declined so many invitations. I receive invitations on a daily basis, but I only accept those which are absolutely necessary and in the interest of the country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on hon. Njuguna’s clarification, it is true that Kenyans have won the Boston Marathon very many times, but they have also won the Chicago Marathon, the London Marathon, the Berlin Marathon, the Tokyo Marathon,"
}