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{
    "id": 1202936,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1202936/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 357,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ali Roba",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I stand to contribute to the Address by the President in the joint sitting of Parliament. I would like to reflect on a few paragraphs among the other issues that have already been reflected on. First is the issue on paragraph 16 where the President discussed and invited this House of Parliament as a whole and challenged them to create facilitative amendments in the Standing Orders where necessary, provisions of the Constitution notwithstanding. As Senate, I would like us to consider that point. Rather than reflecting on what did not go right in the past, we should try and make right this opportunity provided by his Excellency President William Samoei Ruto. The other issue is on Paragraph 41 where the President discussed the issue of managing the blowing expenditure. In paragraph 39 he discussed, the issue of public debt to the tune of Kshs900 billion. In Paragraph 41, he also discussed his direction to The National Treasury and various Ministries on the reduction by combing through the numbers and getting Kshs300 billion in this year's Budget in order to reduce our borrowing burden This is the opportune time to revisit the report on the presidential task-force on parastatal reforms which was carried out in 2013 but was never implemented. The report gives us the opportunity to reduce on parastatals that are doing functions that are already devolved or duplication of functions in various parastatals. The President will be able to streamline and make sure that there is no duplication of responsibilities within various parastatals. Secondly, I would like to reflect on paragraph 45 where the President discussed the issue of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). The reality is exactly what the President discussed. We have an opportunity because as a country, we should be able to have a retirement fund that is able to support those that retire substantively. A contribution of Kshs200 is not going to support anyone that is retiring. This requires a bipartisan view in order for us to propel the country forward. I would like to reflect on the issue, my brother Sen. Mungatana discussed, as a former governor, as well as the Chairperson of Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) that has brought together 10 counties and the Council of Governors (CoGs) of Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) Committee. The drought we are faced with right now is of great concern to the country. The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) has issued an alarm phase for ten counties namely: Isiolo, Mandera, Samburu, Kajiado, Tharaka Nithi, Turkana, Wajir, Laikipia, Tana River and Marsabit. It went further to issue alert stage of drought phase for the counties of Embu, Garissa, Kitui, Makueni, Meru, Narok, Nyeri, Taita Taveta, Kwale and Kilifi. We engaged non-state actors who used to come in to help Government efforts in the past. Now that Kenya is a middle-income country, that help is not forthcoming anymore. As a middle-income country, it is believed that this country will be able to support itself by getting itself out of such emergencies."
}