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{
    "id": 1000672,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1000672/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 1320,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Garissa Township, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Aden Duale",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 15,
        "legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
        "slug": "aden-duale"
    },
    "content": "Statement is concerned. What does that mean? It means that if there will be an increase in expenditure in any proposed appropriation, it must be balanced by a reduction in expenditure in another proposed appropriation. So, this Budget must balance, and I think that is where we are headed. Today is the beginning. I am sure we will discuss the Budget the whole day. Based on the approval of this Report by the House, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance will give the highlights of the 2020/2021 Budget to this House and the country on Thursday afternoon. First, I thank the Budget and Appropriation Committee, and the Departmental Committees. I also thank the Budget Office, led by Mrs. Makau, who spent a lot of time in the production of this Report. This is a unique year, and this is a unique Budget. This Budget has been prepared against the backdrop of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, the floods that are ravaging our country in the Western part of Kenya, in the lower parts of Garissa, Tana River and Lamu, as well as many other parts of the country. The Budget has also been prepared in the backdrop of the locust invasion. This Budget is being prepared against a backdrop of economic challenges. The economy is stressed and is facing a lot of challenges. Drafting the Budget 2020/2021 was, therefore, to comprehensively respond to a crisis whose timeline and depth is unknown. We do not know when this COVID-19 will end. We at least know when the floods will subside. I am sure the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries must be fighting the locusts and the eggs that they usually lay. Kenya is part of the global economy. Both globally and domestically, economic activities have been significantly disrupted. That disruption has led to uncertainty and instability affecting key parameters of any economic growth. Parliament looks at the overall economic performance. Tax collection by the Taxman has significantly reduced in the last quarter. Both public and private investments have slowed down. The current account balance is not looking very good. The personal incomes of our people are at their lowest. There is unemployment in our country today. This ripple effect of the health pandemic on the Kenyan economy has been visible in terms of reduced export earnings because we are not exporting anymore. We have very few business operations. We thank the Government that with the new adjustment to the curfew, companies and Kenyans can, at least, work from early morning at seven o’clock all the way to five o’clock in the evening. There is increased unemployment. Many people have been laid off. This House must speak to companies like Fairmont Hotel who because of no fault of the workers, are sending Kenyan employees home. They are sacking them. There is declining consumer demand. When you put all those factors together, you see that the Financial Year 2020/2021 does not look very good."
}