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{
    "id": 645367,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/645367/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 126,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Tong’i",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2611,
        "legal_name": "Richard Nyagaka Tongi",
        "slug": "richard-nyagaka-tongi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me the opportunity to also congratulate the Presidential Address on the State of the Nation, which aspires to unite Kenyans. One of the contributions that a leader can make to mankind is to inspire people below him to achieve their full potential. The President, in his address went to the highest level in trying to help Kenyans achieve their full potential by way of the national covenant. The President has lived in this country. He knows our challenges. He does not require lectures from us to know what he needs to do. If you listened to the speech he gave, you clearly understand that this is a President who understands the temperatures of Kenya. He understands how Kenyans want to be governed and the irreducible minimum we need as a country. He knows what we need to do as a country in order to move forward. All I wish is our leaders to support him so that we can achieve the goals we all aspire to achieve together. Kenya is ours. All are going to be beneficiaries when we succeed as a country. All of us lose if we do not jealously manage and protect the peace that prevails as we move along. If Kenya becomes ungovernable, we will not enjoy living in this country. The President has shown a lot of concern for our soldiers who are in Somalia. Not long ago, he held a memorial service in Eldoret for the soldiers who died in Somalia. He invited his colleagues from Africa to the memorial service. I remember that the Presidents of Nigeria and Somalia came to share the pain we have gone through by losing our soldiers. However, it is important to mention that the soldiers were going to Somalia for war. They were going to fight. In fighting, there are a few casualties. When that happens, it is not the fault of the President. It is part of the price we have to pay to get peace in the world. If Kenya is to contribute to that peace, we have a duty to do. I do not think it will be fair to apportion blame to one person. After all, the idea of going to Somalia emanated from the previous Government and President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta was not part of that decision. That decision was made in the larger interest of the country and we cannot use it against one person. If you look at the money we are sending to the counties, you will find that it is a lot but the governors have not used it well. It is important for all to appreciate that the monies are budgeted for at the national level. In the wisdom of Kenyans, we decided to allocate most of the money to the counties. We have a duty to question the governors on how they are spending the money we give them and what they collect from taxes, as was the case then. We know that revenue collection in the countries has increased but we have not bothered to question how they spend them. The development being accomplished by counties is a function of the national Government. If the national Government has given county governments money, including the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF), we should achieve some level of development. It is only fair that we say the Government has done a good job. We all live in Kenya and are sharing the same money we get from the Exchequer. Exams are being paid for by the national Government. Nowadays, a child of a poor farmer does not have to struggle to pay examination fees. That has been a challenge and most parents were not able to pay it. The national Government is paying examination fees 100 per cent. Uhuru and his team have planned very well to support in that front because education is the only equaliser in this world. If our people can get education – be it from a sub-county, county or 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."
}