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{
    "id": 1254384,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1254384/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 137,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kilifi North, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Owen Baya",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I was speaking about Systems Theory. When you look at it, you look at the input and output, but the bigger picture is very important at the end of the day. As we split hairs discussing the Finance Bill and the issues that go into it, we need to look at the bigger picture. The bigger picture is that this country requires revenue. The revenue is required to move this country forward. We are looking at Ksh300 billion and where it is going in this Finance Bill. I come from the Coast and would not oppose the Finance Bill because the Blue Economy and Fisheries Department, for the first time, is getting Ksh1.8 billion to grow the fisheries industry at the Coast. This will ensure our fishermen have nets and our fisheries industry has resources. Equally, the shipping and maritime affairs industry has Ksh24.88 billion; money meant to grow the maritime industry at the Coast. The Budget, which this Finance Bill will finance, has set aside Ksh2.2 billion for buying land from absentee landlords. If you come from the Coast and oppose this Finance Bill, which will finance all those beautiful, good things that the President wants to do for the Coast region, who are you fighting for? That is my question. We need to look at the big picture. When we collect all those resources and money, whether from hair, nails, or condoms, as Hon. Donya has said, the bigger picture remains important. It is about what we get from our resources. I am sure that after this Finance Bill, the Coast region will rise because of the money we will receive. Where do we want to go as a country? Do we want to go over the cliff with debts through more borrowing, or do we want to stop borrowing, start looking at inward revenue streams and use them to ensure that we develop this country? Many of those people whom I shared a podium with when I was in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) believed in what Kibaki did when he was the President. Kibaki brought in the new saying, “ Kulipa ushuru ni kujitegemea ”. Many of them believed in that mantra. They believed in Kibaki economics, which was about self-sustaining a country through taxes. Today, they will sit here and say that we cannot and should not pay taxes. Kenya Kwanza has a Manifesto that it has to fund. That funding must come through taxes, and it is those taxes that we have to collect as a Government to ensure that Hon. Wandayi and Hon. Mbui have enough money for roads in their constituencies, and for the National Government – Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF). That money will not come from donors; it will come from our taxes. Hon. Speaker, as I conclude, the Coast region that I come from is known for cement manufacturing. That industry has been stifled for a long time because of imported cement. Many The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}