Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 1357274,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1357274/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 300,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, that is the kind of economy we have been running for many years. That is why when we say we must tighten our belts and teach our people that they cannot enjoy better services without having to pay a share of it, it is the truth and nothing can be done about it. I know people want to play popular and populist politics on this particular issue of taxation but we have to be realistic and tell ourselves about the options left with us as a country. Default is not an option. There is no responsible administration that is going to default on its debts and look straight into the eyes of its citizens and say, because we did not want to make you feel the burden, allow us to default. We know what has happened to countries that have defaulted. Things will get even worse but the President is telling the country, let me be a responsible father and tell you the hard facts that are between you as the adult population today in the Republic of Kenya and the future generations - our children and young people in schools - feeling the pain of a country that has been ravaged by debt. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we would rather feel the pinch as the parent generation, so that our children can inherit a sound economy, a country that is thriving and a better nation than what was handed over to us. I agree with the President on that particular decision. Many a times, people debate and speak about these issues and how there is too much taxation and the cost of living is too high. There is no assumption and I know each and every part of the country is complaining about these issues but the difference between us and our critics is that we are honest with our people. We are telling them that this is the cause and the reason why we are facing this particular situation but there is hope in the hinterland. The things we are doing today are for a better 2024, 2025 and a more prosperous 2030. If we decided to run a subsidized economy like our colleagues were doing and despite the fact that many people are speaking about the challenges in the fuel sector, we know that at the time of the coming in of this administration and thanks to the fuel subsidy program that was being run, this present financial year we are clearing a debt of close to Kshs80 billion, paying for the previous fuel that Kenyans consumed, was not paid for but it is part and parcel of the bills we are living with today. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, up to how long---"
}