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{
    "id": 1545686,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545686/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 241,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "continues to struggle with its debt situation - that I hope as the Committee on Finance and Budget considers that proposal from the National Treasury, the only way is to have it anchored in law alongside the percentage of debt at 55 per cent so that it is clearly defined, a percentage beyond which we cannot borrow. If it is three per cent, let it be stated, whatever the figure, so that as we do a budget, we move away from this aspirational budget. I still do not understand the rationale as to why we have to take it at Kshs4.3 trillion, then after three months, there will be a supplementary like what was signed into law today that has reviewed most of those figures downwards on account of non-performance of revenue. Why can we not, from the onset, live within our means and appreciate that things are difficult? We must have a conversation as a country. If it gets to a point where we can no longer go to the markets and borrow beyond a certain limit, there are things that we need to finance. What options are we left with? Reduction in wages, maybe of public servants that earn beyond a certain figure, how much will that realize? It is not a big figure because you have to be realistic and not sensational like many of our journalists in the newsroom. That is only two or three percentile that earn beyond a certain figure. Then, which other places can we save money? The reality is that we live in a country that has yet to understand the dichotomy of balance between politics and the economy. This will continue to be a struggle. If we are not careful, we will collapse this economy because of that demand. As we speak today, many times you attend public functions in the company of the President and when Sen. Maanzo is granted the opportunity to speak in Makueni, he will ask for a particular road or water project to be completed and this or the other since this informs the understanding of the ordinary citizen of whether to vote for an administration or not depending on our electricity, roads and water programmes. These are the three most critical sought-for things. This continues to pile on to our budget, and year after year, you will see the pressure of any administration like the present one that wants to have a second term in office to choose the easier option, which is to be politically-correct, continue funding some of these programmes despite the fact that we may not afford them because that is what the ordinary citizen understands. This conversation that we are having in this House, unfortunately, is an elite conversation to which the ordinary citizen and the ordinary voter have very little connection. Madam Temporary Speaker, having to face an election subsequently troubles many administrations. I see that struggle even in the present administration. The fact that the Government knows that it cannot possibly look down on its citizens and say, \"I know you have asked for this particular programme or this particular road, but given our financial situation, you will have to give me two or three years.\" No Member of Parliament, Cabinet Secretary, President or Deputy President can have the courage to say that to the ordinary citizen yet, if we are to rescue ourselves from this kind of difficulty, we must reach that level of honesty among ourselves as leaders and as a citizen. Unfortunately, because of the political realities of the day, we find ourselves in a difficult space. On Section G of this particular report, the Committee has set a fiscal deficit target at 4.6 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product for the Financial Year 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."
}