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{
    "id": 1272538,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1272538/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 335,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kipipiri, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Wanjiku Muhia",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "cried and said it was the budget and all this. We told them, “yes, you speak of the budget, but you take money upfront. A citizen pays Ksh4,500 upfront when they apply for a passport. How come you tell the citizen you do not have money? Define ways and means to leave some money at the source”. Last week we met with the Director of Immigration and the Principal Secretary. My Committee is pleased because we lobbied knowing that the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs is huge. It has very many departments. They have the Kenya Prisons Service, the National Police Service, et cetera . It was not so much in their interest to look at immigration. It was purely in our interest to look at immigration because we want people to move with passports. We took this matter upon ourselves and moved it. Today, the National Treasury has agreed to give Ksh1.3 billion. The Department of Immigration normally collects Ksh3 billion on passports only. Out of that, Ksh1.3 billion will remain at the Department of Immigration. This will make them service machines, buy booklets, and make sure there is continuity of work. This demonstrates how this Committee can crosscut in all ministries and make things move. I can also report that this weekend, Hon. Murkomen confirmed that the Government is communicating with Uganda. We will soon return to the East African Railways because the railway from Naivasha heads to Uganda through Malaba. When we finished the meeting over the weekend, he met with Ministers from Uganda. It indicates to Members that things are happening, but we need to do more. We have to realize that the wealthiest men in Africa, a point in case being Dangote, have always traded within Africa. How come we want to trade with China and India? The European Union is strong because the countries are always moving together. We must be strong. Hon. Temporary Speaker, being part of the leadership of this House, you have to help our Committee make proposals that would benefit the Government because, time and again, even government stakeholders are not aware of the potential and opportunity lying ahead of this country in East Africa. Once again, I thank all Members who have contributed. We will continue to bring more reports to this House. With that, I beg to reply. Thank you."
}