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{
    "id": 640504,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/640504/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 357,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ndiema",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1067,
        "legal_name": "Henry Tiole Ndiema",
        "slug": "henry-tiole-ndiema"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I support this Motion. It is timely that the President has chosen that day to address the nation on various issues. Kenyans look forward and are eager to the pronouncements that the President will make because it will hopefully address their fears, expectations and plans, amongst other issues. The Address is coming at the right time in view of the many challenges that the country continues to face in terms of security, economy and general well-being of our people. I believe as he comes to address the nation, he will also address the undertakings that the government has previously given in the various sectors. This afternoon we talked about agriculture and the shortcomings which have continued to bedevil the sector year after another. The issues of delayed fertilizers and inadequate funding of the agricultural sector are issues which Kenyans have always been promised that they will be addressed. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, last year during the international Agricultural Show of Kenya, the President indicated that the government would comply with the requirements of the Maputo Declaration and that agriculture would henceforth be allocated 10 per cent of the budget. When we looked at the budget proposals from the National Treasury, there were indications that agriculture would get less than two per cent. Pronouncements should be followed by actions by those who have been put by the President in positions of responsibility; that whatever the President has said, as the Chief Executive of this country, should be implemented as a given. I have mentioned that there is only Kshs. 1.1billion set aside this year for purchase of fertilizers yet agriculture is the backbone of our economy. We need to reemphasise that and relook at it to see whether the public officers the President has put in trust, are doing what is supposed to be done in areas of agriculture. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the issue of cereals is also important. Farmers are not earning anything from growing wheat. They are not earning any profit from cultivating maize even when the rains are good. The House recalls that during the The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes"
}