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"content": "scale farmer that needs to be compensated Kshs200,000 Kshs300,000 is not paid, while the Government has the money to pay one individual Kshs1.2 billion. What kind of warped priorities are these? It, definitely, points to corruption. We have made representation on this issue and asked the relevant authorities – the NLC - who will appear before us, to explain to us how citizens have not been paid very menial amounts, yet big timers, whose land ownership is still in question, are being paid billions. We also have issues with the Youth Enterprise Development Fund. In fact, I have to stop there, otherwise, we will look like a country that is bordering on levels that are unprecedented in the world. Who are the aggressors? It is our leadership because when you can do something about a situation and you do not, you are an aggressor. If you stand by and watch a situation that is hurting the people, you are an aggressor; you are aiding the aggressors. We have watched on television people that have been brought before the courts, but on whose behalf are they acting? On whose behalf did they receive these monies? These are some of the things that we need to confront. We really need to look at the big fish behind the small fish. We need to confront these issues. Madam Temporary Speaker, the number one driver of corruption is our decision making. The decisions we, as leaders, make support, aid and entrench corruption in our country. So, we must deal with the issue of decision making. We must bring on board institutions and agencies of governance. Corruption is painful because it disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, especially women who, in many cases, are not in the decision-making table. The women of this country should stand up against corruption because it affects and robs their children of the future. We learnt the other day that our banks have been downgraded because of these reasons. I am planning to bring this to the House as a statement. The banks that were downgraded by Mundis are Kenyan national banks. At the same time, the governor of the Central Bank of Kenya has admitted that our own debt is becoming untenable. So, where are we heading? We do not have anything to hold on to, be it our agencies of governors, banking or environmental sectors. Even our schools are robbing our children of a decent education because examinations are compromised. The cancer has spread to every single sector of this country. As we eloquently describe the mega corruption and how it has gone down, we should also look at some solutions which include bringing on board the people that are affected most by corruption, namely, the youth and women. I am glad to have seen some youth taking over the Youth Fund offices the other day. While I do not condone lawlessness, it is time that everybody who is disproportionately affected by this, stands up to be counted. Clearly, our leadership, including ourselves has failed. If the President can stand up and continue to beg that corruption must stop and it does not, what does it mean? Where will we go to because the highest level of Government seems helpless? Today we had all the principals and everybody who matters in this country, the President, the former Prime Minister, Deputy President, former Vice President and they are all crying the same way Wanjiku in the village of Isiolo County where I come from is crying. Where do we turn? 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"
}