Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1231926,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1231926/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 315,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "The CRA recommended Kshs407 billion, the National Treasury recommended Kshs385 billion, and the COG recommended Kshs425 billion. I am surprised by my colleagues who say that we should stand with the truth and take a position. What is the position of the Senate? Kshs385 billion is a realistic figure. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the first half year, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) collected Kshs999 billion, but it fell short. The projection of collection is Kshs2.9 trillion. We cannot collect taxes when our brothers and sisters in the Minority side continue to call for demonstrations. It will mean disruption of business and it will affect the collection of revenue. The Prime Cabinet Secretary mentioned one of the towns in this country that are as risky as 1000 ways of dying and it is the science of the stupid. We have to be honest. We cannot demand more allocation to counties while some of our colleagues and their principals are calling for mass action and demonstrations which affect the collection of revenue, unless they tell us where to get this money. When you look at Article 202, the first charge is more than Kshs10 trillion. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we are talking about the 2023/2024 Budget Policy Statement of Kshs3.6 trillion. We want to laud President William Ruto’s Government because at least it has been cut down from the previous “handshake government” austerity measures of Kshs300 billion. Therefore, we cannot purport to lie to the country that counties can get more money yet the money we are dependent on the revenue collected. When we collect that revenue, the Chinese, external debtors and local lenders come for their loans. Therefore, we must be realistic."
}