Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 1319782,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1319782/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 398,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Shinyalu, ANC",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Fred Ikana",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to comment on the Presidential Address that was made in this House last week. From the outset, I confirm that it met the expectations of most Kenyans, including myself. It was in full compliance of Article 132(c) of the Constitution of Kenya. I want to take this opportunity to highlight a few things that I managed to capture from it. One of the things that the President ably elaborated was the cost of living which is the elephant in the room. It is a subject that affects all Kenyans across the political divide. He ably explained to this House and the nation the initiatives he is taking to ensure the burden of the cost of living is ameliorated. The President also highlighted subsidies on production, which we have witnessed. He focused on reducing the cost of production as opposed to subsidising consumption. How has he been able to achieve this? One of the key areas he has focused on is the subsidy on fertilisers. From the time he took office, we have seen the cost of fertiliser dropping from a high of over Ksh7,000 to Ksh2,500 per bag. This will ensure more Kenyans put arable land into productive use. Additionally, he has waived debts that were owed by sugarcane factories and sugarcane farmers. A lot of Kenyans from western counties rely on sugarcane farming and live through this initiative. All factories that are currently shut should start booming back to production and business. I was also touched by the provision of the Hustler Fund to hundreds of thousands of Kenyans. Kenyans have already borrowed Ksh36 billion. The President was quick to give us an example of Harrison Karisa, from the Coast region, who has borrowed up to Ksh714,000. In my own constituency, I have a success story of Mama Shikokoti of Khayega Market. She is a mama mboga who has borrowed close to Kshs500,000 through the Hustler Fund. What does that tell us? It tells us that we need to ensure that we support initiatives that bring more Kenyans to the bankable space and make them access affordable and cheap credit. The other thing that I want to highlight on is the Universal Health Care that the President launched the other day. It will ensure that more Kenyans get access to health and medical care. With that, I support the President’s Speech. Thank you. 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."
}