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"id": 1556975,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1556975/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Funyula, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Ojiambo Oundo",
"speaker": null,
"content": "serve in the two State Departments at the National Treasury. I also sincerely thank the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning for vetting the nominees and approving their appointments. For the very first time, I want the Leader of the Minority Party to listen. Let me also applaud the move to broaden the inclusion of all spheres of people in the Government of today. In the election of 2022, very many of us were so apprehensive that we thought Kenya belonged to only a few people and that the rest of us were spectators. Yes, we might never have signed the shareholding agreement, but nevertheless, we pay taxes, so we deserve to be considered for all that is there to be done. It is also a big lesson to any incoming administration. At times, not all the political supporters or those you hang around with during campaigns have the competence to allow and enable you to deliver on your mandate. I believe that President Ruto was let down by his first cabinet and administration, which led to the Gen Z riots because of poor decision-making and advice. I just hope that the new team that comes in will be able to see Kenya holistically and develop policies and measures to ensure that this economy takes off. Hon. Temporary Speaker, in a typical working arrangement, the State Department for Economic Planning is the engine for economic development and social progress. They are the people who think, burn the midnight oil, and plan. At the same time, whatever they plan is what goes to be implemented by the National Treasury and all other departments. We just hope and pray that the current administration will allow this Department to play its role. We have nostalgic memories of some of the best brains in this country: Tom Mboya and Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, who headed this Department. It was during those times when the country recorded tremendous economic growth and development. It is high time the National Treasury mandarins, as the Leader of the Majority Party has said, allowed the new team to infuse new energy and thinking in the way things are done in the National Treasury. We all know that the bottom-up economic programme is flailing and is not meeting the targets it was supposed to meet. It is high time the State Department for Economic Planning and the entire Government looked at the value chain they have talked about passionately. Without funding, innovation, and invention, we will not get anywhere. I, therefore, call upon these two gentlemen to work very well. It is agreed that the Government alone will not be able to undertake some of the major infrastructure projects we want in this country to spur economic growth. It is therefore important that we embrace the Public Private Partnership (PPP) that the law has been regularly amended to align with modern thinking. I would even ask that they probably put in a performance contract. Tell whoever is in that department that if they do not properly and successfully deliver PPP within one year, then they have no business sitting there. For example, if you are employed as a transaction advisor and you cannot advise for transactions to succeed, then you have no business at that particular point. I just want to tell Cyrell that that is where the problem lies. Yes, PPP is good, but I want to urge him to avoid the temptation to allow for private solicitation to guide decisions on whom to award a PPP contract. The improvement of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is a welcome idea. However, the Adani Deal was stinking from the word go to the end. We must follow the law when procuring the process. Allow me to sincerely thank the Rt. Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga because when there was a chance to broaden, deepen, and tighten the government, he reached out to all parts of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) stronghold and said, ‘Give us names of experts.’ I can tell you that Busia produces the best. It has never failed to produce the best. If you want to have the best minds in this country to help you run any government or institution, they are in from Busia. For example, if you come to Funyula Constituency, which has trended all over this country, and you throw a stone, most likely, the stone will land on the head of either a Master's or PhD holder. That is Busia for you. That is why I am 100 per cent The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}