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{
    "id": 1203062,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1203062/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 483,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Tobiko",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the President mentioned and also emphasized on affordable housing, and this has been elaborated in the presidential speech. All Kenyans, according to the Constitution, deserve and have the right to live in affordable and decent houses. That is why the President appealed to both Houses to embrace and enhance Government policy on affordable housing so that every Kenyan can afford a house, live in good condition and in homes that have running water and electricity. It is well elaborated in his Speech. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the Presidential Speech, there was the issue of the Hustler Fund. It is really one of the main things of the bottom-up economy that we were talking about during the campaigns. The President confirmed and affirmed that he will allocate Kshs50 billion every year to the Hustler Fund in order to help mama mboga,boda boda guys and small enterprises. I think everything the President said in his Speech was underscoring the bottom- up economy. He expounded what the Kenya Kwanza manifesto had on affordable credit. The President, in his Speech, alluded to the fact that he had spoken to the operators of Fuliza and M-Shwari the previous day and they gave the President their word that they were going to lower the cost of credit by 40 per cent. I think we are on the right track. The President has really preached the bottom-up economy like a bible. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the President began by appreciating Kenyans, Members who got elected and the steps which we have made as a country, particularly in having women in leadership. The single constituency holders have increased to 29 from the initial 23. The retention in both Houses is much better than it was before. I, however, have something to say about women in elective positions. Political parties in this country still have a long way to go. I am sure that all the women who got elected, be it governors, constituency holders or women representatives have a story to tell of the hurdles that political parties are still putting to women across this country. There would have been a better percentage of women representation. One third can be achieved because Kenyans are now ready to elect women. However, the mindset of political parties is yet to change because women in this country are still relegated to nomination slots whereas women have got into competitive politics. Kenyans have proved that if given a chance, they trust women leadership much more. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, going forward as a country, we would want to see a fair playing ground in political parties, so that we have elected women Senators, like, Sen. Kavindu Muthama, whom I can see coming in, and the others who have come through the elective position. As a country, having the President who was supported by more than 50 per cent of the women electorate of this country, I am sure will enhance that space and help Kenyan women achieve the one-third representation in both Houses. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the President had talked about effective oversight in both Houses. He even proposed that there should be an oversight fund to help the Senate undertake its duty of effective oversight over the counties. This should be a welcome gesture by this House and the National Assembly on the issue of National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF)."
}