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{
    "id": 60895,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/60895/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 271,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr. Mwiria",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 190,
        "legal_name": "Valerian Kilemi Mwiria",
        "slug": "kilemi-mwiria"
    },
    "content": "The issue of tribalism has been spoken about and I agree with those who have said that we cannot be holding peace rallies at high level politics and not resolve the problem of IDPs. We cannot have political and peace meetings to only talk about power come 2012 and forget people who are suffering because they supported the same people who went for this power. I also cannot agree with Members of Parliament who say that we cannot re-settle IDPs in Trans Mara or Taita Taveta. That is Kenya and it is very unfortunate. It is okay for W azungu or Greeks to own land in this country but if it is Kenyans from another ethnic group they cannot be re-settled on that land even when it is bought by the Government. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, privatization is for efficiency. Sometimes, we assume, when we talk about Mumias Sugar Company, that all that income comes from the people of Mumias. We forget that, that sugar will be useless if there are no other people consuming it and paying tax from across the country. It is the same with the port which is not about Mombasa. The port is a lot about what goes in the inland and the taxes that are coming from it. It is important to strengthen that as a national asset and even improve creation of employment opportunities for the people of the Coast. We cannot stop Kenya until we decide that there are certain aspects that we cannot privatize. Finally, this is a new era and we have to go for reforms but I doubt how much we can achieve in this country if the people who will preside over the implementation of reforms do not believe in reforms. It is quite clear that many people in the top leadership in this country and the people who want to be the president and prime minister are not the greatest supporters of reforms. So, if you do not believe in reforms, what is the need? In this case, as Members of Parliament and Kenyans we need to begin to open our eyes in terms of what alternatives exist; in terms of people who genuinely believe in reforms. This is because even if you have a new Constitution but it is like new wine in old wine skin, it will not make a difference in this country. I would like us to look at that carefully, forget about our tribal inclinations and look at people in terms of what they represent, and whether or not they would support the very essence of what we stand for. With those remarks, I support the Motion."
}