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{
    "id": 1000741,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1000741/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 1389,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Emuhaya, ANC",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Omboko Milemba",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13328,
        "legal_name": "Jeremiah Omboko Milemba",
        "slug": "jeremiah-omboko-milemba"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity to support this Budget, and also make my comments. I want to thank the Budget and Appropriations Committee led by Hon. Ichung’wah. As it has just been indicated by the previous speaker, he has, indeed, done a good job and I think he will remain as one of the most respected chairpersons of that particular Committee in the House. I want to thank the Committee because it has highlighted most of the important things, including trying to change the mindset of the National Treasury from creating a normal budget to one that is extraordinary in terms of covering the issues concerning the COVID-19 pandemic in the country and worldwide. On that level, the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC) advised the National Treasury on the issue of economic stimulus in the Budget. Economic stimulus is good, as we know, in all recessions. History proves that economic stimuli are good because they support the economy to grow again. It will help, especially post COVID-19. I want to urge that when the Cabinet Secretary will be considering his proposals to the House, he should further include the issue of economic stimulus in areas where it touches on the constituencies and other devolved areas. He should devolve that particular stimulus. For instance, I am happy about Kazi kwa Vijana which is on-going in some areas, but it needs to be devolved in all the other areas. However, I was also disturbed that the good statement which was originally in the budget report here on devolving this particular fund to go to the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) was later on repulsed and the Chairman spoke about it. However, this will be very good so that Kazi kwa Vijana and other economic stimuli that have been given by the Government can go down to the constituencies and even to the local level of administration. I am imagining Emuhaya and all other constituencies having such a plan going on. Because of time limit, I would also like to indicate that one other thing that this Report talked about is foreign debt. It has brought it out very well. It has dealt with our ability to earn from Foreign Exchange, which is based on agriculture, especially floriculture. Moreover, it went ahead to indicate that the sub-sector has been hit hard and we shall lose over Kshs60 billion because of low exports occasioned by the COVID-19. This will certainly affect our ability to pay foreign debts. The Report further indicates the dangers that we have with the foreign debt which has risen to Kshs904 billion, that is, almost Kshs1 trillion. The Report goes ahead to indicate that the debt is currently being serviced. The cost of servicing the debt is higher than the capital or development budget that we have in the country. Therefore, as Parliament, we must talk and walk the talk. Recently, there was a Bill in this House to increase the gap of borrowing. We ourselves The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
}