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{
    "id": 1613450,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1613450/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 4490,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Yatta, WDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Robert Basil",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute. Allow me to thank Hon. Atandi for his maiden Budget Estimates since he became the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. From the outlook, the Budget looks a bit healthy. However, I have some reservations, considering the ratio of recurrent expenditure to development expenditure. We are still far below the recommended ratio of 40 per cent for recurrent expenditure and 60 per cent for development expenditure. The first world has 30 per cent for recurrent expenditure and 70 per cent development expenditure. We are still grappling to attain this ratio. This is something we need to consider very seriously, if we are to move Kenya to the next level in terms of development. The key sectors that drive the economy of any developing nation are energy, infrastructure and ICT. From the document in front of us, 20 per cent of the Budget has been allocated to energy, infrastructure and ICT. This is still very low, considering that most areas, particularly rural ones, have very low electricity connectivity. For instance, my constituency is below 20 per cent of our electricity needs. Most areas are not connected to electricity. Our roads are in a very bad state. That is why I say the 20 per cent earmarked for energy, infrastructure and ICT sectors is very low. We need to review it upwards to meet the needs across the country. The other important sector is education. The total percentage allocated to the sector is 28 per cent. That is still low considering the needs in the sector. There are examinations, HELB and other infrastructure needs in education. It is important that we re-look at this and see if we can revise the money earmarked for education upwards. The health sector has got the lowest percentage of the total Budget of about 5 per cent, which is around Ksh137 billion. Health professionals have been coming to Parliament to ask for their pay. Patients have no one to attend to them because health practitioners are busy on the roads demanding for a pay rise. It is important to listen to Kenyans and try to add some money to the health sector. Agriculture used to be the backbone of the Kenyan economy. It is worrying when I see the agricultural sector and rural development being allocated 3 per cent of the total Budget, amounting to about Ksh78 billion. That is very low, if we really believe that agriculture is still the backbone of our economy. In a nutshell, there is a lot for us to do as a House to respond to the needs and realities of Kenyans, so that we move the country to the next level in development. When I look at the grey areas that need funding, some have been under-funded. To be specific, I will talk about the school feeding program. In the previous financial year, the program got about Ksh3 billion. However, in these Budget Estimates, there is nothing that has been budgeted for that program. Hon. Temporary Speaker, my constituency and yours are classified as arid and semi- arid (ASAL) areas because they receive erratic rainfall. Most of the students in those areas The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for informationpurposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}