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{
    "id": 1056540,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1056540/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 232,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Marakwet West, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. William Kisang",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2263,
        "legal_name": "William Kipkemoi Kisang",
        "slug": "william-kipkemoi-kisang"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. From the outset, I want to join my colleagues in supporting this Report of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. I want to thank them for according us time. We were there the whole of Friday and as you heard, they left at around 2.00 a.m. It looks like the National Treasury has not understood the Information, Communication Technology (ICT) sub-sector very well. This sector is the enabler and engine that is helping all the other sectors function. But when it comes to funding you will realise this is one of the sub-sectors that is really underfunded. Every time there is a Supplementary Budget, it is the first one to be cut. Even during the BPS, the ceiling that has been set is way below 50 per cent of the requirements of the sector. This BPS has proposed that this sub-sector be underfunded by over Ksh20 billion. This is the sector that is supposed to do connectivity across the economic zones in Mombasa, Naivasha and the whole country. Without these funds the achievement of the Big Four Agenda is likely to be undermined. This is because the Big Four Agenda projects require enablement from ICT. Recently in 2019 we passed a law here, the Data Protection Act which had some issues and cases. At least, last year in November, this House approved the appointment of a Data Commissioner. If you check in the BPS, they are proposing to give her less than Ksh50 million. Ksh50 million will not be adequate to support that office because they need to pay rent and employ skilled employees to support the office. Going forward, you know the referendum is coming soon. We have elections for next year. The Huduma Namba is being rolled out. We are told the cards are ready. So, without funding this particular office, basically are we sure our data will be safe? We will still be talking to the Budget and Appropriations Committee to see how this office can be adequately funded."
}