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{
    "id": 60263,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/60263/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 247,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Njuguna",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 20,
        "legal_name": "Peter Njuguna Gitau",
        "slug": "peter-gitau"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Presidential Address. First, I would like to thank the President for making a very visionary statement in this House yesterday. In addition, let me thank the Speaker of this House because he also made a well loaded statement, cautioning the performance of hon. Members in this House. By extension, I also remember to thank the ODM part of the Grand Coalition Government for its statement on the establishment of a local tribunal to try the Ocampo Six. That is the proper direction to take if peace is to be maintained in this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, while commending the President, I wish to note that he is also a strong constitutionalist of our times. He vigorously led the referendum campaigns. After assenting to the new Constitution, he is now very eager to make sure that the same Constitution is implemented as per the wishes of the Kenyan people and thus assuring the Kenyan nation that we will have a brighter future. To me, that is a very big statement because it will translate to better investment by foreigners and lead to rapid growth of our economy. Concerning the social sphere in our country, I wish to note that wananchi still experience a lot of difficulties in accessing medicines in our hospitals. It is, therefore, important that more drugs are made available to our hospitals, so that the poor in this country can access them. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, concerning the alcoholic drinks control law, in some areas, this law is not being implemented properly. Entrances to bar premises are locked, but people inside those premises continue to drink beyond the allowed hours. Therefore, security agencies must address this development. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, concerning the resettlement of the IDPs, this is a phenomenon that was created by the current political predicament in our country. In my observation, all the IDPs in this country must be resettled before the next general election. This is because we realize that they are really suffering in the sense that they are worn out. They are under-feeding their children, and are sick at times. Therefore, it is important that before two years lapse, all IDPs are in their homes. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, concerning rampant crime, in this country determined efforts must be made, so that incidents of carjacking and kidnapping are brought to an end. We have noted even recently that people have been kidnapped and killed, and a lot of money has been demanded by gangsters. You realize that recently people have started hanging themselves in different parts of this country. We need to ask ourselves, as a country: What is really happening? People have started hanging themselves; they are committing suicide unnecessarily? This is an issue that needs to be addressed by our Government. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, concerning the revival of illegal groupings that were banned recently, a lot of effort must be made to address this new menace. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to support the recent shuttle diplomacy executed by the Vice-President, because, in my view, the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) have already heard the position of our Grand Coalition Government. They are now responding to that. It is, therefore, important that we also express our gratitude to the South African and Chinese governments, which have already taken positions to support the position taken by our Government. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the matatu industry is likely to start increasing fares as a result of the high prices of fuel. This must be addressed properly; we need to make sure that our roads are safe, because quite recently we have had a lot of accidents and loss of lives of innocent Kenyans. We have talked about supporting the agricultural sector in this country. Where is the cheap fertilizer? It should be made available. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, concerning the labour laws, a Bill must come to Parliament, so that we can review the workers’ working conditions, because they have given their contribution to the improvement of the economy of this country. Workers have been underpaid for a long time and we need to improve the quality of their lives, and even facilitate the education of their children. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, concerning the National Land Commission, we still note that there are people who have not been settled for quite some time. People from emergency villages have not been settled; also to be settled are slum dwellers who have recently been affected by fires. Why are fires breaking out among the very poor living in the slums? This is an issue that the Government must address very seriously. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, concerning access to education, it is important that the issue of shortage of teachers in our primary and secondary schools is given more funding, thought and attention, so that quality education is guaranteed in our schools. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, concerning the implementation of our new Constitution, good work has been started by the Commission on Implementation of the new Constitution (CIC), and I wish to take this opportunity to thank the chair of that commission. On corruption and impunity in many Government departments, we want the Government to address them through the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC), and make sure that our institutions are accountable and transparent, so that Kenyans will realize the benefits that they have been yearning for. The biggest impediments are the major reforms that we require in the police force and the Judiciary. Wananchi have been complaining of unnecessary arrests and harassment by the police. Once reforms are carried out, these issues will be addressed and the nation will be happier. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, concerning reforms in the Judiciary, we have noted that cases have taken decades in the courts before being determined. Therefore, putting in place a new judicial system will address these issues and reduce the current number of pending cases; these are almost one million. It is the desire of the Kenyan people to make sure that we have a meritorious court system in this country. Therefore, the sooner Bills are brought to this House, the better, so that our nation can achieve the desired goals in terms of taking the country forward. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with these few remarks, I support the Presidential Address."
}