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{
"id": 179599,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/179599/?format=api",
"text_counter": 72,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Oparanya",
"speaker_title": "The Minister of State for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030",
"speaker": {
"id": 201,
"legal_name": "Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya",
"slug": "wycliffe-oparanya"
},
"content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am sorry that I am late. I was in another function; I was presiding over the release of the half-year results of Safaricom Limited. When I came in I found that the Questioner had already asked the Question. I am very sorry about that. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. (a) I am not aware that Kenya has the highest disparity between the rich and the poor in the world. The country with the highest disparity of income distribution in the world is Namibia, with 0.7 per cent, while the lowest is Denmark at 0.23 per cent. However, I am aware that poverty and inequality still remain among the key challenges facing our country. Concerns have been raised on the extent of disparities between the rich and the poor, and unequal distribution of resources. As we all know, inequality is a challenge facing many developing countries, including Kenya. Nevertheless, according to the World Development Report of 2006, on equity and development, inequality in our country is estimated at 0.44 per cent. Some of the most unequal countries in Africa, according to the report, are Botswana at 0.63 per cent and the Central African Republic at 0.61 per cent. Kenya, however, compares unfavourably with some of the countries in the region, with our inequality being higher than that of our neighbours. There is Ethiopia at 0.3 per cent, Tanzania at 0.35 per cent and Uganda at 0.41 per cent. (b) The main causes of disparity are differential in access to or lack of one of the factors associated with poverty, but which also create disparities in our opportunities and they are:- (i) disparities in distribution of national assets and income; (ii) disparity in access to opportunities such as employment, quality education, technical training and creative facilities; November 12, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3377 (iii) disparity in development in different regions of our country; (iv) differences in natural factors endowment such as fertile agricultural land and sufficient rainfall, and (v) disparity in gender and cultural beliefs and practices. (c) Programmes and projects aimed at reducing inequality are articulated in the various sectors of the Medium-Term Plan, 2008 to 2012 of the Vision 2030. Some of the measures to be implemented include policies and programmes that minimise differences in income opportunities and access to social services. Some of the initiatives are:- (i) profiling of the poor and their needs; (ii) development of centralised policy; (iii) integrated national strategy for national governance through targeted poverty programmes and projects; and, (iv) funding and re-inventing of core poverty programmes in the Budget system. It also involves funding and referencing of core poverty programmes in the Budget system; special attention to communities living in the Arid and Semi-Arid areas, for example, the creation of the Ministry of the Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands; targeting the critical sectors of the economy where the poor derive their livelihood from namely; agriculture, tourism, livestock and small and medium-scale businesses and the informal sector, investment in infrastructure to connect the poor households with the economic potential to Higher Close markets in small towns and urban areas. In ASAL regions, measures will involve improving livestock husbandry and marketing and building abattoirs; and increased community empowerment through devolved funds for both social and income programmes. Some of the funds include the Constituencies Development Fund, Local Authorities Transfer Fund (LATF), Constituencies Bursary Fund (CBF), Community Development Trustee Fund (CDTF), Women Enterprise Development Fund (WEDF) and Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF)."
}