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{
"id": 1501943,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1501943/?format=api",
"text_counter": 145,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wambua",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13199,
"legal_name": "Enoch Kiio Wambua",
"slug": "enoch-kiio-wambua"
},
"content": "demonstrated by the Member of the Standing Committee on Energy, Sen. Sifuna, that a few hours before that announcement, the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, was insisting that the Adani deal was the best deal that they have clinched as a Ministry. This Government needs to communicate better, even among itself, so that even as they now come out to speak to the nation, then they are speaking in tandem. I am concerned that the speech of the President did not address itself to the all- important aspects of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). One of the fundamental tenets of democracy that we pride ourselves in, is representation of the people. As we speak today, there are sections of Kenyans who are not represented in Parliament and in county assemblies, for the simple reason that we do not have an IEBC in place. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I will give the President only two examples, because he occasioned one of those lack of representations. The people of Ugunja, where the current Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum comes from are not represented in Parliament. The people of Banisa are not represented in Parliament. Several wards across this country are not represented in the county assemblies. I would have expected the President in his Address to the nation, to give proper timelines as to when this nation should expect an IEBC fully in office, so that we can carry out the task of elections. Second is the delimitation of boundaries. I heard the President mention abductions, disappearances and kidnappings. What the President or the speechwriter forgot to include in the Speech of the President, is the fact that at the time the President was addressing the nation on matters of security, the Parliamentary Square had been converted into a police state. I tried to access the precincts of Parliament, but I could not because all the streets around Parliament had been cordoned off and there was heavy presence of anti-riot police officers. I kept wondering, who is afraid of who? Why can we Members not access Parliament freely, listen and engage with the President, without the police officers harassing us Members and curtailing our access? On the matter of public debt, I would have expected the President to give us more information. When he says that he inherited immense debt from the previous administration, what is immense debt? Why can we not deal with figures? How much money is it that this current administration inherited from the previous administration? What is the current borrowing status of this Government? How much money have we borrowed as a country since 2022? How much have we paid and what is the outstanding debt? Lastly, I would like to answer Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale on the matter of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) transition to Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and he is not here. However, since this will go on record, let him know that the Senator of Kitui County, Enoch Wambua, has no problem whatsoever to contribute Kshs32,000 to the new system. However, what the Senator of Kitui County has a big problem with, and I will proclaim it, is that I am losing my Kshs32,000 from my salary, and that money is not helping my people in Kitui County. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}