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{
    "id": 1340609,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1340609/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 165,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. George Murugara (",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Tharaka, UDA): Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I do not agree with Hon. Kaluma that this Motion has any element of unconstitutionality whatsoever. First and foremost, he is relying on Article 53, which stipulates that basic education is supposed to be free. That Article does not say it is supposed to be cost-free. It says it is supposed to be free. That means there is an element of cost borne not by parents, but by the Government. Therefore, we must have, at the back of our minds that, taxpayers’ money will be used to fund our children's basic education. Who runs our taxes? It is the Government. Hon. Muriu is proposing that part of those taxes be applied in a different way to basic education. He is saying that the NG-CDF, which is Government money and our taxes, should be varied slightly so that it is applied to cover basic education in primary schools and junior secondary. There cannot be any unconstitutionality as far as that proposal is concerned. If Hon. Muriu had proposed that parents have to come and chip in in a different way, we would be arguing whether that is not in breach of Article 53. With those remarks, I urge you to find that there is no breach of Article 53. We are debating. We are making proposals to the Government. There may also be resolutions. At one time, proper law will be brought so that this is properly entrenched in law and enforced. As far as this is concerned, we are within constitutional rights. Thank you."
}