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{
    "id": 1006655,
    "url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1006655/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 147,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Bomachoge Borabu, Independent",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Prof.) Zadoc Ogutu",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13302,
        "legal_name": "Zadoc Abel Ogutu",
        "slug": "zadoc-abel-ogutu-2"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I support the Supplementary Appropriation Bill moved by Hon. Lessonet. I appreciate the arguments raised by the Leader of the Minority Party. It is possible to encounter scenarios that make it necessary for us to have a financial interruption in our budget. It is very unfortunate that we are having this kind of confusion at a time when the country is facing a financial crisis caused by COVID-19, preceded by the heavy and long rains that brought destruction through floods. It is important that officers who guide us in the budget-making process are cautious when we get changes that come with financial interruptions and at a time when the economy is weak. It is unfortunate that we might plunge this country into more trouble. I want to make two comments. First, I want to support this Supplementary Appropriation Bill on grounds that it is in line with the Big Four Agenda of the Jubilee Administration in the area of affordable housing. We must start looking at this country becoming urbanised with time. Some densely populated areas like Maragoli and Kisii are slowly becoming towns. We should support that. I am not sure how people whose houses and infrastructure have been destroyed in the rural areas can benefit from this window. I know the Ministry of Devolution might come in to address these issues. The Department of Urban Development must address the issue of areas that suffer floods, so that the people can benefit. There is a State Department for Post-Training in the Ministry of Education that has been allocated a small amount of money. Is it necessary to fund this department? It has been allocated Kshs300 million. Are we serious in having this department becoming functional in delivering its mandate? The responsible bodies must address that issue. Looking at the State Department of Water and Sanitation, COVID-19 is an issue we have to deal with. Schools will be reopened and many of them do not have water. Even for those schools that have water, the water is not clean. I am not sure they will benefit from this allocation. In the rural areas, there are a number of boreholes that do not function. We must relook at this vote and ensure that once schools reopen, they have access to clean water. We must prepare to live with COVID-19."
}