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{
    "id": 730218,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/730218/?format=api",
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    "content": "we do not prematurely withdraw our forces from Somalia. Sometimes this has happened and we have lost all the gains that we have had before. Despite the very high cost in terms of equipment and personnel that we are losing in maintaining a Government in Somalia or making sure that there is no continuous flow of terrorists to this country, we would still urge our Government to maintain our forces in Somalia. They should continue to do the credible job that they are doing. They are doing a wonderful job at a very high cost that we are paying but we are very happy with the peace that we have in this country; free of any terrorist attack for a whole year. This is commendable. Madam Temporary Speaker, we know the harm drugs have caused, especially on our youth. This is an international problem. I am happy that this Government, under the current President, has taken decisive action to deal with this menace. Last year, a whole boat of drug merchandise was blown up in the Indian Ocean. This was a clear demonstration by this Government that this menace must come to an end. I urge the Government to deal with drug barons who continue to spoil the youths with drugs. Perhaps the law should be changed to make it firmer to ensure that these barons do not enjoy the benefits accruing from these criminal acts. Therefore, we should enact a law to confiscate assets or properties that have been attained as a result of trading in illicit drugs. It is commendable that this Government is showing signs that it will do something. It is already doing so. Parliament should support this Government in its effort to eliminate this menace. Madam Temporary Speaker, our primary and secondary schools have, within the last three or four years got electricity. We have been able to carry out another project; supply of tablets. Many schools do not have reading materials. This is despite the fact that we set aside close to Kshs11 billion to buy reading materials. I do not think what I am witnessing in many schools is the cost effectiveness of this money in supplying schools with reading materials. The Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB) which is a Government funded institution is mandated to produce reading materials. It is underutilized and when it is utilized, it produces books for export to neighbouring countries like Rwanda, South Sudan and so on and yet in our schools, the ratio of a book to the number of pupils is still very low. It is important that we look at how best we can use Kshs11 billion to supply our schools with reading materials. It looks very simple. However, we need to ensure that all the funds that we allocate to schools are used to buy books from a Government institution. For example, they can buy books directly from the Kenya Literature Bureau. In fact, it has the capacity to produce all books for every subject throughout the country. We can end up stocking our school and home libraries with text books and exercise books. I am sure that this will change the reading culture in this country. I am happy that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is looking at this. I am in support. This is one thing that will give us value for the money. We will face challenges with those entrepreneurs who feel that the Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB) will be encroaching on their market. If we can supply tablets to schools without anybody interfering with the free market, we can as well supply books to The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}