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{
    "id": 1079792,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1079792/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 250,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mwea, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Josphat Kabinga",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13441,
        "legal_name": "Josphat Kabinga Wachira",
        "slug": "josphat-kabinga-wachira-2"
    },
    "content": "In this regard, in the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, we intend to turn the National Youth Service (NYS) into a commercial venture that can generate funds not only for itself, but to support the budget. We are looking at a possibility of using the equipment and strength the NYS so that it not only generates jobs for itself, but works closely with some international companies that we can bring in. We see no reason why we cannot compel all the companies that come here to extend 20 or 30 per cent of their jobs to the NYS that has equipment. We will make use of the manpower of our youth who are out there looking for jobs, generate funds, engage the youth and transfer skills. In my contribution to the Budget Report, I noted that most of the companies we have here, for example, the Chinese ones, are owned by the Government of China. All we need to do is have the right policies to ensure that some of our Government entities can competitively enter into the business market without unfair practices that are going to kill the private sector. Once we go that way, we will have services to our people, generate money and have a sustainable kind of environment. That is one area of Appropriations-in-Aid that we need to look at. I urge the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning to work with all committees that will then work with the ministries they oversee to ensure that they do not just wait for money at the end of the year, but try as much as possible to make use of the opportunities before them. All of them have opportunities. As I said, the traditional practice of them waiting for money and not thinking of how to generate money is what is killing them. We have, for example, the Huduma Centres that have shown that we can generate money. Another non-traditional way of extending our revenue base is to look at areas like export of labour. I talked about it in the Report. Philippines is currently having foreign remittances in excess of Kshs42 trillion. Our budget is about Kshs3.6 trillion. They are getting about Kshs42 trillion. If we only can generate about kshs1 trillion or Kshs2 trillion out of this market, money would come here and value for our shilling would be strengthened. There would be money in the pockets of Wanjiku. Small businesses would thrive and taxes would be paid. Therefore, this country will generate more money. Foreign remittances have a positive ripple effect on our budget. We need to look at those areas and ask ourselves how we can reclaim some share from some of the areas taking care of our people, so that when they go there, they do not suffer as they are currently suffering. There are opportunities there. The Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare will be working hard in that area. Because of the short time that we have, we are working towards giving a report to this House which we believe if implemented, will increase our current share, which is about Kshs300 billion to about Kshs1 to Kshs2 trillion in the market. The potential is there. These are some of the areas we are looking at. I carefully listened to the Report by the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning presented by the Chairperson. I want to thank her. She has picked up in that area. I support the idea of zero-rating bread. The current proposal to have that exempted was articulated by the Leader of Minority Party and we hope that it will be accepted by the Treasury so that we zero-rate bread and its associates, including unga, so that it is friendly to Wanjiku. We cannot be talking about Wanjiku out there, yet when we have this kind of a Bill in Parliament some of our colleagues who talk about her are not here. So, this is the place to propose ways and means of getting money to her. I encourage the few Members who are here. I am told those who are not here are represented. For our case, we are never represented. We represent ourselves so that when we discuss these ways and means and how we can strengthen our budget and financing, we do it in the House. It is in the House that these things are done. Having zero-rated bread, we believe that people will enjoy much more. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}