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{
    "id": 1259748,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1259748/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 138,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kiharu, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Ndindi Nyoro",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I request that Members consult in low tones. I want to be very brief. It is important to note the issues that we have had because they enrich the debate. Today, we have had very quality debate on this matter especially across the spectrum of the entire economy. Some of the issues that I said before about A-in-A have been highlighted by the Members who have taken part in the debate. I want to bring up one matter that I heard from Hon. Mbadi on the issue of having a bloated Government. I agree 100 per cent with Hon. Mbadi. It is important for Members to listen to what we did. In the Budget of 2023/2024, we never approved any increment in personal emoluments or pay for additional staff of Government except for a few areas. We only approved additional staff in Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) and trainers of Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions (TVETs). We made it very difficult for any MDAs to add staff. This is because, the Government of Kenya has more staff than we need. What we need to do is reallocation. In one constituency you get there is a Youth officer, Uwezo Fund officer, Women Fund officer and Gender officer. There is duplication of roles of like nine government officers serving in a single sub-county; roles that could generally be done by just a few staff. What we may need to do in future is to optimise on the resources that we already have other than adding more. Lastly, allow me to go back to your topic. You got the entire 10 minutes and we learnt a lot from it. As I reply, I will use the benefit that I got from your contributions. I agree with you on many aspects. However, I want to give you reasons as to why we are not committed to borrowing further. For example, the case that you cited about Japan; Japan has over 250 per cent debt to GDP ratio or a percentage of debt with regard to GDP but it borrows very cheaply. At some point the 10-year bond of the Japanese Government was on negative territories. Just imagine that they borrow money but pay less. Secondly, Japan is a net lender. As much as we read that Japan has a lot of debt, it is also the number one external creditor to the United States of America (USA) Government. 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."
}