Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1533607,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1533607/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 921,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kilifi North, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Owen Baya",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I would like to get that report, so that our country does not continue to lose money. One important thing that the BPS does is to allocate funds to the Equalisation Fund as well as funds to clear the pending arrears. The Equalisation Fund is a constitutional fund to which funds must be allocated each year. If those funds are not utilised, they stay in the account. However, the counties were previously allocated funds but those funds were never put into their respective accounts. All the projects that were meant to be undertaken in previous years have never been accomplished, especially during the years when we had a court case. I thank the Liaison Committee for taking the bold step of allocating Ksh7 billion to the Equalisation Fund and Ksh2 billion for arrears that are due to the Fund. There are many stalled Equalisation Fund projects because of the court case, and many suppliers and contractors have not been paid. Nonetheless, this allocation means that we will have a reprieve, and funds will be made available to areas that need them. Therefore, I thank the Committee for allocating Ksh7 billion to the Equalisation Fund and Ksh2 billion to clear the arrears under the Fund. Another important thing we must note is that, apart from the money that is going to the counties, the additional funds allocation has also been factored in the BPS. That is very important because it brings accountability. Many times, funds are spent without a proper accounting process and, therefore, accountability is lost in the process. I congratulate the Committee for ensuring that additional resources will be included in the BPS. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I want to speak briefly about agriculture. The BPS notes that by 31st December 2025, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development should develop and submit to the National Assembly regulations for the Hides, Skins and Leather Fund. We are a country that keeps livestock, but we have not benefited from the hides and skins industry, which is a big industry that can transform this country. For the first time, the BPS makes such a fundamental resolution that the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development should submit to Parliament a policy guideline on how we will harness our hides and skins to set up factories which will employ many people, thus making Kenya a net exporter of shoes. We used to have the Bata Shoe Company, which closed down and yet, if you go to the northern and north-eastern parts of Kenya, you will find many herds of cattle. What are we doing with the hides and skins after eating the meat? That is a first step towards industrialisation and realisation of better living standards in this country. With those remarks, I support."
}