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{
    "id": 1353452,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1353452/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 318,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kilifi North, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Owen Baya",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " We are told that we are protecting the country against terrorists, but it is to our detriment. If I want to use tourism to leverage my economic problems, then I should allow tourists to bring in as much money as possible into the country. A tourist should be able to withdraw as much money from their account as possible. However, tourists now have to sign documents, giving reasons for withdrawing Ksh1 million. A tourist staying in Kenya for only five days is not allowed to withdraw Ksh2 million to buy Maasai artefacts as gifts for their families and friends. There are very many curio shops from Voi to the Tsavo National Park, but tourists cannot buy anything from those traders because the vendors do not have PDQ machines. They only operate with cash. If a tourist is restricted from bringing currency into the country, how are they going to transact business? How are we going to ensure that we have enough foreign exchange reserves in the country, if we cannot leverage on tourism? People love Kenya. If we open it to tourism, the issue of dwindling foreign reserves will be cured. Managing our foreign currency reserves will help us to manage our debt. If we do not do that, we are going to have more problems. I read in yesterday’s newspaper that Dar es Salaam has opened a coffee auction which is a big competition to the Mombasa Auction. Where will we get foreign currency reserves if we still restrict people on how much they spend at the tea and coffee auction in Mombasa? I thank the Chairperson of this Committee and the person who came up with the idea of splitting these reports and giving this mandate to the minority. Today, we can discuss debt and withdrawal from the Consolidate Fund in this House so that every Kenyan knows what we are doing. Without anticipating debate on the next Motion Hon. Shurie is going to move, I am happy that transparency will help us move forward."
}