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{
    "id": 1532424,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1532424/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 4677,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Alego Usonga, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Samuel Atandi",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Speaker, you were present during the funeral of the late Chief of the Defence Forces, General Ogola, when I challenged the President on the fact that members of certain communities have never held certain positions in this country. As the Leader of the Majority Party has rightfully said, today, the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning is Hon. John Mbadi. That is a big milestone that has never been witnessed in this country since Independence. Today, I also break the record as the first man from that region to chair the Budget and Appropriations Committee. That is a very big milestone too. First, I would like to thank the President of the Republic of Kenya for his bold leadership and for ensuring that he acts on whatever he says. When the President said he wants to unite the country, this is the real evidence that he is doing so. Secondly, I thank my Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party and its leadership. You know Baba is always present and, therefore, I thank him for this opportunity. I also thank the leadership of this House, especially Hon. Junet Mohammed. I confess that Hon. Junet is the person who re-organises our Azimio la Umoja side. I chair this Committee because of the confidence that Hon. Junet Mohammed has in me. Those things must go on record even before I start working. Hon. Speaker, I want to make a few remarks about the Second Supplementary Estimates before the House. The reality of the matter is that these Supplementary Estimates are before the House at a time when the economy is stabilising. I should repeat that for everybody to hear. The truth of the matter is that the economy is stabilising and these Estimates are before the House at the correct time. One piece of evidence that the economy is stabilising is that prices of basic food commodities have come down. Inflation has moved from the high rate of 10 per cent in 2024 to about 3.5 per cent as of February. Also, the Kenya Shilling has stabilised against major currencies, especially the US Dollar, which is evidence that the economy is doing very well. Fuel prices have also come down. Those three factors have given me the confidence that we are doing well and we are on the right track as a country. One thing that has been achieved, courtesy of this development, is low food prices. Basic commodity prices have also come down, and Kenyans are happy. One of the factors that have led to this success is investments in agriculture. You remember that the President decided to invest in production by subsidising seeds and fertilisers. That led to what we now call ‘sufficient food production and low pricing.’ We have also had very good weather over the years, which has helped us."
}