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{
    "id": 645370,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/645370/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 129,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Memusi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1661,
        "legal_name": "Elijah Memusi Kanchory",
        "slug": "elijah-memusi-kanchory"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to those of my colleagues on the Presidential Address. I start by saying that the Speech was inspiring in theory but heartbreaking in practise. Kenyans are not looking for nice words but for practical solutions that will change their lives. After I went through the Speech and compared the words used therein with what is on the ground, I got disappointed as a leader. This is a country with a lot of opportunities and immense resources. For example, pastoralists are wallowing in poverty. They do not have markets for their produce and yet there are potential markets out there which can change the fortunes of these people. For those who grow crops, we have a lot of arable land that is enough to feed this country but we see a lot of it lying idle. The Galana-Kulalu Food Security Project is not working. It is an idea that will not work. Kenyans are looking for ways of changing their fortunes. Areas like Voi have precious stones but the locals wallow in poverty. In the State of the Nation Address, there is a lot that can be said to be true. We can do better as a country. I urge my colleagues in the Opposition that it is not enough for us to criticise everything. For those in the Government, it is also not enough for you to support everything. We, as the representatives of the people, feel the pressure out there. The gap between the haves and the have not is growing every day. As leaders, it is time we put our heads together whether you are in Government or in the Opposition. We must come together as leaders and be responsible because we have been given a chance to contribute in the wellbeing of this country and our people. This Government has a lot of successes like in security. I would say for sure that security has improved. We can support areas that we feel it. In my constituency, for example, it is practical. Policemen did not have cars but now they have them. They can respond quickly to situations but for those things that are not working, whether we are in the Government or in the Opposition, we must come out clearly and say that they are not working. We have opportunities in this country that if we put our heads together as leaders, the lives of our people will flourish. Our people will prosper and corruption will end. I want to say without fear of contradiction that the issue of corruption in this country is as a result of poverty. Leaders steal. People in Government positions steal money and take back to the poor people and they cannot say they do not want the money because it is coming through corrupt means. So, corruption is as a result of poverty. As leaders, we must bring our heads together and find ways to make this country prosper. Thank you."
}