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{
    "id": 67566,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/67566/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 176,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Linturi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 69,
        "legal_name": "Franklin Mithika Linturi",
        "slug": "franklin-linturi"
    },
    "content": "Famine is not a new phenomenon in this country. The Prime Minister gave a speech in this House on the looming disaster associated with the effects of La Nina . I would have expected the Government to have taken serious steps to prepare itself because this is a matter that was expected. It is very surprising to find that our Government does not have a serious clear policy, mechanisms and a clear structure on how to fight famine. I would like to take this chance to advise the Government to take this matter seriously. The money that is always set aside to buy relief food should be used to enact a long-term policy on who to mitigate this problem. We need to encourage our farmers and guarantee them good prices for the various food stuffs that are grown in this country. When farmers produce a lot of food which is not bought by the Government or it goes bad in their stores, they are very discouraged. Last month, I visited Egypt and I was meant to understand that country has not had rain for the last three or four decades. That country depends on River Nile for irrigation and she is able to feed her people. Time has come when we must teach Kenyans how to fish and not just give them fish. Recognizing that we have just passed a new Constitution which gives Kenyans so much rights, I want to remind the Government that it must prepare for very serious litigation. Article 43(c) on Economic and Social Rights provides that every Kenyan has a right to access quality food and water. So, it is no longer a privilege, but a right for every Kenyan. So, those Kenyans who are facing serious hunger should not die. They can petition the courts to issue orders to the Government to provide them with food. This way, we will be in line in implementing the new Constitution, which must be implemented in both letter and spirit. This is the time that I believe that the Government must come alive to these facts and work towards realizing the dreams that came with the passage of the new Constitution."
}