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{
    "id": 121237,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/121237/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 365,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "construction of roads and rural electrification. I want to commend the Ministry of Energy. There are lots of power lines in Rangwe Constituency. My fear is that without conserving the environment, the power lines which carry electricity produced using water, will one day run dry. To that extent, I think it is imperative and important to this House at this point in time, to prioritize the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources and ensure that adequate funding is given so that we can have a country that generates its income by conserving its environment. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to make a few observations on the various sections of the Finance Bill. I want to look at the proposal to include the Kenya Airports Authority Fund (KAAF). This is an issue that we debated sometimes earlier. I want to reiterate my position that, while this idea could be noble, it is indeed important that it receives due scrutiny. To that end, I had suggested that the Minister makes arrangements to bring an independent Motion or Bill seeking to establish this Fund. We are talking about something in the region of Kshs2.5 billion annually. In a way, I see this as an attempt to cannibalize the country’s Treasury. If we go on with this trend, we will have very little funds flowing into our Consolidated Fund. If there are, indeed, any justifications, then this should be articulated very clearly on its own merit and demerits so that all and sundry can appreciate that indeed, there is need to ring-fence these funds. If we are going to ring-fence all the funds from their sources, nothing is going to fill into the Consolidated Fund. Moreover, the practice has been that all these corporations that generate funds, surrender the surplus. With a design to ring-fence this Fund, no surplus is going to be surrendered. We are just going to be our own enemies. If we proceed with this, we will have fat parastatals with a very thin Treasury. I will revisit this issue tomorrow during the Committee Stage with a more vigorous opposition. I also want to express my opposition to the removal of the Sugar Development Levy (SDL). I come from a region where sugar-cane is grown. Sugar-cane farming is very under-developed. We still need to develop the sugar industry there. One of the leading sources of funds for development of the sugar industry in this region is the SDL. The Minister in his proposal indicated that he is proposing to scrap the SDL so that he can help reduce cost of production. My argument has been that much as we need to reduce cost of production to the multinationals, we are more duty-bound to protect our farmers and millers locally because they are a source of income and employment to our citizens. We should maintain the SDL. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the sugar industry needs research. I know there has been an argument that sugar factories are to be privatized. My constituents are opposed to the privatization of the sugar factories. But, even if you were to privatize them, it is important that you fatten your cow before you sell it. The only way we can fatten the sugar industry and make it attractive to investors in the event of privatization, is to attract much more funding from the SDL. It would be ridiculous to take the sugar factories to the market when they are going to fetch very little returns. I want to promise that I will come tomorrow to vigorously oppose that removal at the Committee Stage. I have been discussing with the Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Planning and Trade, Prof. Kaloki and he promised me that they are going to bring an amendment here. However, I want to express my opposition to Section 28 of the Finance Bill which seeks to give authority to the tax man to take taxes in advance. I do not think this proposal augurs well for the economy. We know that sometimes it is possible for the"
}