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{
    "id": 48053,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/48053/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 262,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Njuguna",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 20,
        "legal_name": "Peter Njuguna Gitau",
        "slug": "peter-gitau"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me the chance to contribute to this very timely Motion. Let me indicate that the content and the intention of this Motion is very good, indeed. The Motion reflects on the basic needs of Kenyans today. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, you will realize that, today, many communities and families are unable to put even a small plate of food on the table and, therefore, this Motion will really address that concern. You also realize that water has also become a very rare commodity and where water is available, the bills have become very high. The common mwananchi will not be able to meet the bill, meaning that water will be disconnected and the lives of Kenyans will be affected. You also realize that the cost of medicine in our private and Government hospitals is very high and rare and, therefore, the common man has resulted to herbs for treatment. That is an issue that should not be allowed in modern Kenya. We passed a Motion the other day indicating that people are not able to collect bodies of relatives from hospitals because of the economic hardships affecting our communities. We note with a lot of dissatisfaction that IDPs have not been settled up to now. That is a serious concern to the people who are affected. They are concerned about the education of their children. Their future is badly affected. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, we also note that there are Kenyans living in the slums where water is scarce and there is no electricity and security. That is also affecting their lives. Habitation of those people must also be addressed. We also realize that there are squatters who were affected as a result of the emergency villages in 1952. They are still living on the road sides and something must be done about them. Today, in some regions in this country, children are not going to primary or even secondary schools because of hunger. They are not able to stand or even walk and, at times, they are forced to go and look for food for their parents. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the cost of transport has also skyrocketed. Buses and matatu fares have gone up. They are not sympathetic to the commuters and, therefore, the industry is badly affected. The nation is almost coming to a halt. If some of these basic requirements are not addressed, that will happen. It is high time our Grand Coalition Government rises to the occasion to give real commitments to some of these concerns. The leadership should also give dedicated service to Kenyans as expected. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the cost of electricity has also gone up, even though the Ministry of Energy is doing well. Unless the tariffs are reduced, it will be almost impossible to make the nation “breathe” well. Agricultural productivity cannot be realized because the cost of fertilizer has remained very high. Subsidized fertilizer is not available. Seeds are also not available and this nation cannot, therefore, afford to feed itself. The poaching of elephants has continued because there are some people who feel that they cannot get employment and their livelihood will only be realized from poaching. Zebras have been poached, slaughtered and their meat flooded in Nairobi. This is a very serious development. Some people have started eating cats and dogs. That has never happened in this country and that is a very serious development. That is betrayal to dedicated service to our people. Therefore, I will be urging the Government to set up a special committee to address these very serious issues affecting the common man. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the rate of crime in this nation has gone up. We have never seen fathers raping their daughters. This is very serious and we need to condemn it. The churches and well-intentioned Kenyans must eliminate that crime that is directed to young girls and, thus, ruining their future. Even families have started committing suicide, and that must be stemmed completely. Banks have started losing a lot of money through our sons and daughters who have gone through the university and have turned themselves into thieves. This is a new trend and it must be addressed if this nation is to grow in the best way economically and socially. With those few remarks, I fully support the desire of this Motion. Thank you."
}