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{
"id": 1532489,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1532489/?format=api",
"text_counter": 4742,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Narok West, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Gabriel Tongoyo",
"speaker": null,
"content": "That is true. I see Dr. Nyikal laughing. This was due to the high cost of food, edible oil, maise flour, and many other commodities, which were beyond the reach of the majority of poor Kenyans. Through the intervention of the Kenya Kwanza Government, largely through the fertiliser subsidy, we managed to produce food in plenty as a country, thereby leading to a reduction in food prices. This translated to a reduction in inflation. There is also an additional Ksh7 billion, which goes to the sugar sector. We know the President has been categorical and determined to address the big problem of sugar in this country, which has been there for quite too long. Our colleagues here in the House who come from the sugarcane growing belt are actually, in celebration mood because the sugar sector is flourishing. I support this. There is no doubt it is going to enable this very crucial sector to continue growing. More importantly, there is an additional Ksh2 billion in the milk sector. We have Members from pastoral communities here. The additional Ksh2 billion will enable farmers and communities to buy milk coolers, which His Excellency, the President, promised. I appreciate that. This has come when the cost of milk per litre is Ksh50. This development will spur growth and help a great deal. I also want to mention the critical sector of security. In the Second Supplementary Budget before us, it is good to appreciate that there is Ksh2.5 billion for police modernisation. Hon. Temporary Speaker, because we sit on the same Committee, you remember that the Kenya Kwanza-One Government embarked on the modernisation of our security sector, mostly the National Police Service and security organs. In the first Financial Year, there was Ksh6.5 billion and an additional Ksh2.5 billion. This will contribute to reduction of insecurity and cattle rustling in majority of the troubled counties like the North Rift at the Kerio Valley. When His Excellency the President gave the State of the Nation Address, he noted that there had been a reduction of insecurity in those regions by 70 per cent. That is commendable. To a large extent, this could be attributed to the modernisation of our National Police Service, which maintains peace in those regions. So, the continued addition of resources for the modernisation programme is much welcome. There is no doubt that it is going to help our police officers, make sure that this country is safe, and enable them to carry on with their duties with ease. In the same sector, it is good to appreciate that there is a Ksh5 billion for insurance of our police officers that will add to the already existing Ksh3 billion. But again, it is good to note that, still, there would be a deficit of about Ksh6 billion. This is much welcome. We know the important roles our security officers play and the dangers and vulnerabilities they face. So, insurance is extremely critical for them. This is very encouraging. We also note that in the same Second Supplementary Estimates, about Ksh500 million in the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in the form of Appropriations-in-Aid (A-I- A) from the office of Certificate of Good Conduct. I want to tell Kenyans that this is a critical consideration. We all know that when Kenyans apply for this very important document, they have to wait a little bit longer because, at times, we go manual; at other times, the certificate expires. So, enabling the DCI to have an A-I-A will enable them to produce the certificate of good conduct in real-time. Actually, they told the Committee when they appeared before it that they could do it in less than four days. So, this is very much appreciated and supported. In the same sector, there is Ksh5 billion that goes to e-Citizen and Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)."
}