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{
    "id": 1459702,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1459702/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 324,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Yatta, WDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Robert Basil",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "electricity grid, that is a new customer. That being a new customer, that is new revenue to be generated by the Government. So, we should invest our money where it is required and where it can be regenerated. That is why we cannot say no to electricity. Removing money allocated for electricity connection should be considered, reviewed and reinstated so that we can create a pool of new customers to generate more revenue. On irrigation, it is important to understand that food security is an important component of any nation. It is shocking to hear that money meant for irrigation has been cut. We should be talking of mega dams being constructed in this country. In my case, I will talk about the Yatta Dam, among other dams which could be important to boost food productivity and produce raw materials to support industries. I suggest we look at our priorities and put money where it is rightly needed so that we do not have a bloated budget which burdens Kenyans instead of refocusing on areas where money can be allocated and the economy of this country can be rejuvenated. That is why irrigation for mega dams should have been considered. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I agree with the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee when he said that some State agencies need to be merged. It is unfortunate to see duplication of services within the Government. We have many State agencies in the Government. Today, we are talking of 290 parastatals. Do we really need them? The answer is no. Why can we not reduce that number to about 100 parastatals at maximum, so that we can have enough savings and direct the money to development? Additionally, why do we need 51 Principal Secretaries? Why do we not lower that number to about 22 or 21 to align with the number of Cabinet Secretaries? During the late President Moi’s Government, we used to have one Principal Secretary per ministry and one director per ministry. That is where we need to save more money and channel it to development. That is important and we should not throw it under the carpet if we are patriots and we are elected to represent our people across the country. On the Equalisation Fund, this money needs to be used wisely. The other time I spoke on this Floor that some areas were considered under the Equalisation Fund while others were left out. Why do we not use baseline data to know areas that have been marginalised so that resources can be allocated to areas that have been ignored since 1963? Let us put aside tribal and ethnic considerations that have been used in appropriation of resources. Allocate resources based on needs and areas where they are required. Importantly, I also join my colleagues who talked about the oversight fund for the Senators. Hon. Temporary Speaker, it has to go on record that the duty of a Member of Parliament including a Senator starts with representation, oversight and legislation. When we pay someone for doing their job that is good. But why do we need to create another fund to pay Senators when in actual sense they have been remunerated as people's representative in that capacity? That should be removed; it should not be in this Supplementary Appropriation Bill. We do not need the Senate Oversight Fund when in actual sense they are already paid to oversee as we equally do. Hon. Temporary Speaker, going forward, let us consider itemising our budget. This will allow us to know where our money goes to. Taxpayers will also know how their resources are utilised. It will also offset the agitation that we have seen with protestors across the country. We need to unite our country, heal our wounds and not bandage them without treating them."
}