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{
    "id": 1169623,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1169623/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 252,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "It is imperative and it behoves us to demystify these things to the general public for them to know why we are here talking about the need to either increase or not increase the debt ceiling in this country. We need to make it very basic so that Kenyans can understand. Madam Temporary Speaker, if you go to Narok County right now, the area of Olchorro, Mau, is the most productive area in this country. We have a lot of wheat farms, but we have no roads. If the public wants a road, it just calls for the national Government to spend money to build that road. Where will we get money to spend if the national Government does not have money? Today, we want better hospitals. How will we have better hospitals if the Government does not have money? It then begs the question, is debt good or bad? This is what we should be demystifying for the general public to understand. Madam Temporary Speaker, earlier on when we were talking about the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) in this House, the proposal by National Treasury was that the Government should borrow locally. The effect of borrowing locally is that it would make it very expensive for ordinary folks like us to borrow money from the local banks. This is because the bank will find it much better to lend money to the national Government because their money will be safe. The question that we should be putting out there for people to understand and what we should be asking our people to answer is whether is debt good or bad for this country? I have heard my colleagues from the other side of the aisle arguing that the 27 kilometres Expressway was built through debt, which is not true. That is a Public Private Partnership (PPP). I thank Sen. Faki for taking the time to say what the national Government will do to try to correct and ensure that we can at least manage the debt. Encouraging national and county government to engage in PPPs because that road is built and it is helping us. Today, upon my arrival from outside the country, it took me seven minutes to get to Waiyaki Way. It makes me more productive. Madam Temporary Speaker, when debt is used correctively, it can improve so many things. One is the standard of living of the people of this country. Everyone needs a good road. If we borrow money and build roads, it makes it easier for us to get to where we are going. Those are the issues we should be discussing. What Kenyans ought to know is that what has been ailing this economy is corruption. So, when corruption exists and it continues eating in every Government sector, the economy will be in shambles. I want to reiterate that increasing the national debt will encourage the Government to build roads and bridges. It will also encourage most of our constituents. When they"
}