Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 661463,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/661463/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 352,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Kang’ata",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1826,
        "legal_name": "Irungu Kang'ata",
        "slug": "irungu-kangata"
    },
    "content": "First, I imagine if we were to delay the construction of this terminal within the next four or five years, it will be very expensive. When you look at the trends of the world economy, you will notice that the American economy is strengthening. As a result of that strengthening, it means that the dollar will become very strong. Noting that we pay our debts using dollar denominated currencies, it means that if we delay and the American economy, as projected, becomes strong, we shall be paying at a higher premium. So, it is better we pay now before we start paying thereafter at a high rate. Secondly, we need to make Mombasa a competitive port. This is one of the methods of making it competitive because the traffic is going to be diverted via Djibouti towards Ethiopia. There is also a proposal that Uganda and Rwanda are going to be importing their cargo via Tanzania. Therefore, it means Mombasa is at a danger of being edged out of the market. It is up to us to be more competitive by building another terminal and ensuring that Mombasa can handle a higher volume of cargo as opposed to us relying on the new terminal that was recently built by the Japanese Government. All factors being constant, I believe Kenya and Africa is rising. When you are in a place where the society is becoming more prosperous, shipping exports and imports becomes a very important aspect of economic activities. We must leverage on the fact that we have a sea. It is noted all over the world that one of the ingredients of economic take off is having a long coastline. Therefore, I do not belong to the school of thought that we have enough terminals in 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."
}