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{
    "id": 1504254,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1504254/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 165,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Marakwet East, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kangogo Bowen",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. The President’s Speech gave hope to many Kenyans. I want to point out a few issues which His Excellency the President talked about. First, is the issue of affordable housing. In the next 20 or 30 years, over 60 or 70 per cent of Kenyans will be living in urban areas. We cannot continue to be a country where the majority of our people live in slums. Affordable housing is very important. The President talked about the reforms which are currently happening in the health sector. The transformation of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) into the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) is very important. When the NHIF was in force, all Members of Parliament, employed Kenyans, and ordinary Kenyans were paying Ksh500. Whether you were earning Ksh1 million, Ksh20,000, or Ksh2,000, you would all contribute the same Ksh500. With SHA, those who earn more can carry other Kenyans who earn less, so that they also benefit from Taifa Care. We also have a problem with our current education funding model, which has been there for the last 40 or 50 years. The President announced reforms to the education funding model. With the new model, children of Members of Parliament will not pay the same as those of ordinary Kenyans. We are coming up with a model where children from families with means will pay a bit more than those who are from poor families. I want to put emphasis on the issue of corruption, which the President mentioned in his speech. We need to deal with it very firmly and seriously. The President cancelled the Adani contracts during his Address. It was very embarrassing that there were no serious background checks conducted on the Adani Group. We know that our airport requires expansion. We also need to increase our electricity connectivity. However, as we do so, we need to follow the due processes. Those who are involved should ensure that we do not get ourselves in embarrassing positions. I support the President’s Address. We need to play our role as a House and ensure that we check the Executive properly. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}