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{
    "id": 534927,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/534927/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 103,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. H. K. Njuguna",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1508,
        "legal_name": "Humphrey Kimani Njuguna",
        "slug": "humphrey-kimani-njuguna"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Deputy Speaker. I would like to support the President‟s Speech. I would like to start with the apology that he gave. I want to look at that apology in the context that it was given. We all agree that in this country since Independence and even before there have been lots of social and economic injustices meted to Kenyans. The injustices were directed at certain individuals, families and regions. We have had political assassinations; I do not need to name all the political assassinations that have occurred in this country. We have had historical land injustices before and after Independence. I have my constituency in mind where almost 30 per cent is owned by Del Monte and Kakuzi who have created squatters. Even as we talk, we are still experiencing land grabbing. This is a serious injustice both historically and currently. Other community injustices include the Wagalla Massacre and ethnic clashes in the 1980s and 1990s that climaxed in the 2007/2008 violence where 1,300 Kenyans lost their lives and thousands got displaced. Thousands of Kenyans suffered during the second liberation. We cannot forget the Nyayo torture chambers. We had detainees then and a lot of mistrials. The fact that the President apologised on behalf of this nation is a good gesture because we must look forward. We must remember that we are Kenyans as much as we want to dwell in the past. The future is here with us. Even as we look for restitution, it is important that we agree that we move forward. In that context, I support the President. On economic growth and development, he talked about 37 per cent of this country being connected to electricity. He talked about free secondary education. He also talked about 30 per cent of public procurements going to the youth, women and the disabled. This translates to about Kshs500 billion of our annual Budget. I support this. The President talked about the Medium Scale Enterprises (MSEs) and the role they play towards economic growth and development. About 20 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 75 per cent of our total employment come from those areas. I would like to caution that even as we support our women, youth and the disabled, it is important that we do not overdo it. Men are already complaining in our constituencies that we have forgotten them despite the fact that they are taxpayers. This is important because we might push some of the agendum to a point where we sacrifice merit and there is a backlash like we did for the girl-child and forgot the boy-child. Let me talk about corruption. Everybody in this country should fight corruption. It is a vice that compromises this nation. The Transparency International Report talks about 30 per cent of our annual Budget going to waste through corruption. We all agree. It does not matter which side of the political divide you come from. Corruption must be The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}