Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 563125,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/563125/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 131,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Njuki",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1372,
        "legal_name": "Onesmus Muthomi Njuki",
        "slug": "onesmus-muthomi-njuki"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. The issue of land is very emotive. Parliament is held with high esteem and anything that is said on the Floor of the House can have a serious influence or effect on what goes on out there. A few minutes ago, when Hon. Mwiti Irea was contributing to this Motion, he said something that should either be withdrawn or expunged from the Report. He alleged that Hon. Mburi Mwiru opened a police station in his constituency. I believe we do not have constituents of Tharaka who live in Hon. Mwiti’s zone. That is how land clashes are normally started or ethnic violence is started. As much as Hon. Mwiti is my personal friend, it will be good for him to withdraw and have that record expunged. Tomorrow, the residents of Imenti Central may go to uproot the police station and vice versa. That is a serious issue. If there is land dispute between those communities, there must be a proper way to handle it. I just thought I should say that because I come from that county and these are my good neighbours. Taita Taveta is one of the places where we have had serious historical injustices. The name “Criticos” is not new in Kenya as far as land matters are concerned. As much as the Committee has done a very good job, part of the Report states that the Government of Kenya paid off a loan that was owed to the National Bank - money that was utilised by Basil Criticos - to settle people on the land. I believe that that loan did not only cover the land that was used by the squatters, but it partly covered what was occupied by the investor himself, Hon. Basil Criticos. Therefore, he should be surcharged for having utilised Government money in this particular case. The Government should not pay for him and the Committee should clarify this. On the 30,000 acres on sisal, which has been expanded to 38,000 acres, it is an assault to the natives of Kenya. It is common sense that most of the native Kenyans would not be holding this land for sisal. This must be a foreigner, who may now be a Kenyan citizen, who does not respect the traditions of Africans. He does not respect Africans’ right to own land. Therefore, as much as we want investors, it is important for the investors, especially foreigners, to appreciate that even the natives should have good public amenities. He may be the only one who has an aircraft in that area at the moment but an airstrip is an amenity that is used by people who do not even live there. You cannot make an airstrip which is on public land your own personal airstrip in this era where we have public transport, including air transport, being so critical in development. I suggest that this Motion be amended to include punitive measures against this kind of investment. On the issue of corporate social responsibility that this person has not utilized---"
}