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{
    "id": 1618550,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1618550/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 4654,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dagoretti South, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Kiarie",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Appropriations Committee. Allow me also to appreciate the tireless work that was done by the Chair emeritus, Hon. Ndindi Nyoro, who is also a Member of this Committee. I want to believe that he was part of the team that burned the midnight oil to ensure that this Report gets to us in time. Based on the work that has been done, it is clear that the Committee was very keen to move in the direction of austerity. The Committee did so while balancing numerous competing interests. What it has done for the Financial Year 2025/2026 will start us off on a good trajectory towards where we want Kenya to go, especially by being true to the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). I want to say this from the bottom of my heart. One day, when the generation of Members of Parliament in the 13th Parliament will look back, they will be extremely proud of being part of the team that made difficult decisions. This is especially true at a time when Kenya could no longer continue kicking the can down the road. Some of the things that Hon. Atandi and his Committee are funding in this Report are things that Kenya has always desired. No single Presidential candidate has ever vied in this country without mentioning the issue of housing. They put that in their manifestos every time. However, when they try to implement it once in office, they shy off because of populist politics. This time around, we have a generation of leaders who have decided to take the bull by the horns, and we can see the results. In just one year of funding the affordable housing programme, we in Nairobi are seeing its benefits. Words cannot express what we saw in Mukuru when individuals who would never have dreamed of being in a stone-walled house with basic amenities, such as sinks with running water and toilets inside, received their house keys. Thanks to the decisions made by the generation of leaders this time. In Dagoretti South Constituency, we are awaiting the Budget Estimates, as presented by Hon. Sam Atandi. We expect to see the largest infrastructural drive in the history of our constituency following the emergence of affordable housing projects in Gachui and Riruta and the groundbreaking for markets in Riruta Waithaka and Gachui. These decisions must be made by people who understand that you do not need to be popular all the time. In leadership, sometimes you have to make very tough decisions, and history will vindicate you. We saw it with former President Mwai Kibaki when he made tough decisions, especially during the grand coalition with Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Raila Odinga. If we may remember, Kenyans were shouting down President Kibaki and Rt. Hon. Raila when they were doing infrastructural development. They said that they did not like the Kikuyus because they were demolishing their houses. However, the moment Thika Road and the bypasses came into operation, everybody started saying that Kibaki was the best President that Kenya had ever had. Building is painful, but the benefits that accrue out of it once a project is complete are for posterity. Hon. Sam Atandi is helping us to fund the University Funding Model. When the late Hon. Mwai Kibaki attempted to introduce free primary education, some people shouted him down, saying that he is not giving us masomo ya bure but masomo bure . People said it was not possible to admit all those children into primary schools and give them quality education. We are seeing the results today. I see the work that the Budget and Appropriations Committee has done in moving us towards the realisation of dreams that Kenya has had as aspirations since the inception of our country. I noted the Committee's observation regarding revenue mobilisation. It cannot be taken lightly when the Committee recommends that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) needs to improve its methods of mobilising revenue. In this technological age, KRA can be more innovative and creative. I have seen what is happening in Malawi, where their revenue authority invites people to enter a lottery with their Electronic Tax Register (ETR) receipts, thus promoting taxpayer compliance and improving revenue collection. KRA attempted the 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."
}