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"content": "We are not calling a spade a spade. When that time comes, when the politicians will just speak their minds without playing to the gallery, I think that this country will be very lucky. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when I was a Minister in charge of Internal Security, we tried to introduce quite a number of things. Our President at that time, hon. Moi, was very keen to see that areas in Tana River and some parts of Garissa irrigated. Quite a number of volunteers came on board. But after that, it became a very political issue. He had to drop that great idea. In fact, even today it is only Sen. Haji, from that part of North Eastern Province, who can think the way he is doing, and whose intentions are very good. I wish Sen. Kajwang could try even to ask for 10,000 acres around Garissa, to develop a certain crop which is very conducive and marketable in the area, which Sen. Haji and the others may not have ability to do. Sen. Kajwang will just be condemned on the Floor of this House. That is why I am saying that we had better be open. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have listened to my friends who spoke before me. They were explaining how things could be done in a better way. All these are in our shelves and have been written by experts. In this country, we have better experts in agriculture than any other country in Africa. In fact, maybe we can compete with South Africa. They have all the knowledge, but who is stopping them from moving? It is the political decision. Are we ready to take this bull by the horn? That is the biggest question that we need to ask ourselves. Mr. Deputy Speaker, this Motion is intended to bring a lot of benefits. It will bring employment and sustainment of food security. So many things will happen if this Motion could be implemented. But if this is just a debating club; where I stand here before cameras and then everything is now okay since I have been seen and done my job- -- I am not so sure that Prof. Anyang’-Nyong’o would want to be employed in any other gainful employment than here. Equally, I would want to serve this country for the remaining time that I have without fear or favour. But look at this Motion. Many Senators are out of the Chamber and we are very few here. Can we be serious? Why should we be paid by this country when we know too well that we are not serving people? Can we pass a loyalty test of any kind? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, sometimes when I stand here, I feel like I am being a bit unfair to the thinking of others because they do not agree with me. No one is obligated to agree with me. However, if I pass a message the way it should be passed, I expect my Professor here, whom I respect, to accept it. So, unless we change the Kenyan political culture, we will not move anywhere. We are moving towards pastoralist areas, but what about even the areas which are conducive for agricultural activities? Irrigation is also required in those areas. We have all these facilities ready and yet, we are trying to think of other facilities where we will be required to make a very serious decision politically. I think that it is fair for Sen. Haji to start this kind of thinking because somebody somewhere must decide to stick his neck out. That is what Sen. Haji normally does, and I know him. He was my Provincial Commissioner and was very effective. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, land is available in this country. About 75 per cent of land is bare. There are no people there. We also have the machinery and brains, but not the political decision which is the driving force for any development. There is no 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."
}