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{
    "id": 1456614,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1456614/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 4004,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Seme, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "We describe this Supplementary Estimates as unique and unprecedented. It is just but a revision of the 2024/2025 Budget because the Finance Bill, 2024 did not go through. Matters have worsened by the loss of revenue due to the ongoing unrest, which we hope will be addressed soon. The Budget itself is realistic given the circumstances. It has addressed critical areas of need and has reduced spending on areas like construction and development that can wait. Hon. Temporary Speaker, how did we end up in a situation where our children are out on the streets, risking their lives and many losing their lives? We all support them. We have all said that they are right and that they have shown the way. But how did we get here? All of this is a culmination of errors of omission and commission that we have committed in the past in governance, politics and service delivery. Up to now, university students who are supposed to report in September do not know how much fees they need to pay. In the health sector, the SHIF laws have been deemed unconstitutional by the courts. Therefore, all the services dependent on NHIF have been suspended. The police insurance and the civil servants’ insurance are not recent issues. The issues of corruption, excessive displays of wealth, and biased recruitment have all contributed to this situation. This can also be due to unmet expectations. As we discuss this, we have to change our way of doing things. We need to prioritise the interests of the people. We knew from the beginning that the people did not want the Finance Bill 2024. All stakeholders, professional organisations and church leaders were not in support, but we did not listen. The situation has worsened over the years because we have not attended to the needs of the people. Critical areas affecting the peoples’ lives such as the cost of living, fuel, housing and health have been neglected. As a Parliament, we represent the people. We have a duty to oversee the Executive. The people expect that their elected representatives will protect them should we have a rogue Executive. We have failed on this. We must start listening to the people. As a matter of urgency, we must start to rebuild the confidence of the people in this Parliament. We are going to do some vetting. We must go out and listen because the problems are not yet solved. The Generation Zs are still out there and we need to appeal to them. It is actually them who are appealing to us to change our ways. The only way we can appeal to Gen. Zs is responding to them by changing our ways and listening to them. That is what we need to do. We do not have to think much about this. We have been shown the way. Let us follow it. As I sit down, let me repeat my concern. How do we start to build the confidence of the people of Kenya in Parliament? If we do not do that, the people will always come out to express themselves, and not always in ways that are acceptable, safe or peaceful. We must realise that in the presidential system, this House, in totality, oversees the Executive. Therefore, it should not matter which side we are in. If something is not good for the people, it is not good for them and it is their expectation that this House will stop such things. With that, I support these First Supplementary Estimates, which, as I said, are basically a revision of the 2024/25 Budget. I support."
}