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"id": 191050,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Kioni",
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"legal_name": "Jeremiah Ngayu Kioni",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I will take very few minutes. I rise to support this Motion that we actually need a Bill, so that we can all be able to participate in the fiscal management of this nation. It has been mentioned by many others in the past, but I would like to also say it, that one of our roles in this Parliament, as the representatives of the people, is to be involved in the management of affairs in terms of the money that is collected by way of taxation, how it is allocated and how it is eventually used. We should also be seen to participate, or talk more authoritatively, in the reporting process. The current way of budgeting that we have seen in this House is totally exclusive. We only come in towards the end of it to be asked whether we say \"yes\" or \"no\". To use others' words, it is really a rubber-stamping process that we need to bring to an end. We can only do that if we come up with this Bill that will enable us to participate in it, so that we can, in a more useful manner, say what we think will be useful to areas that we represent, and this nation as a whole. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, again, the issue of unequal distribution of resources has been talked about by many people in the past. I would want to mention resources are not equally distributed in this country. There is the perception that there is a region in this country which has continued to receive more resources than others. It is important that these issues are now discussed across the board, so that we can establish the truth. Some of these issues are more of perception than reality. I come from Ndaragwa Constituency. We are also complaining, Just like any other place where people have been complaining about unfair distribution of resources in this country. We are in a region which has been considered, in the past, as having been favoured in terms July 2, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1561 distribution of resources. However, I come from Ndaragwa Constituency, which has not seen any form of development. So, if we have an opportunity to sit in the Budget making process, we will be able to articular more clearly what it is that we are facing in our own constituencies. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the recent past, we created Ministries targeting specific regions of this country. I believe that it is for a good cause. It is, however, important also to note that some of the climatic conditions that may be experienced in areas being targeted by those particular Ministries do exist in some of our constituencies. If we do not take part in this process, our constituents will easily be marginalised, because there is the thinking that they do not suffer those harsh climatic conditions. It is important that we are allowed to have a say in this process, so that we can articulate issues prevailing in our areas. Another important thing is that quite a big portion of the resources in this country are now being channelled to areas through institutions. We have money being given to the districts, so that it can get to Kenyans from whatever point of this country. We also have resources being given through the constituencies, like the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) money. We have the HIV/AIDS control funds being channelled through the same institutions. We have the Local Authorities Transfer Fund (LATF) money, which is being channelled through the local authorities. This is the criteria we are now using to get the resources to the people. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, common sense would tell you that if you are from an area which has many districts, then you will receive more of the national resources than people in areas with bigger districts. Equally, we have constituencies which do not match in terms of population. It is important that we articulate these issues. We have constituencies which have registered voters numbering as few as 15,000. Other constituencies have registered voters numbering 249,000. If resources are being given on an equal basis to these areas, then the issue of unequal distribution of resources will certainly emerge. I support this Motion, because we need to be involved. If we are not involved, we will continue saying that there is unequal distribution of resources, which is more of a rhetorical position as opposed to what is happening at the moment. Those areas that have dense population in this country are receiving less of the national resources as opposed to other areas. So, when we talk about unequal distribution of resources, it is more of a rhetorical position. We need to bring out the truth. The truth is that, until we are involved in this process, the nation and the whole world will continue being told that we have unequal distribution of resources, which is not the position any more. Perhaps, it is the case, but skewed in a different manner than it was done in the past. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, another thing I would want to bring out is that when Members of Parliament are allowed to participate in the Budget making process, the Ministry of Finance and its officers will be more responsive. They will be more careful to listen to what people say. We will not experience situations like the one we experienced last week, when we were being called to contribute to the Business on the Budget, when those who were supposed to listen to us were absent. It made no sense for any of us to continue speaking when those who were supposed to take notes were not there. Reforming this process will make the Ministry more careful and listen to what we will say. By so doing, they will be able to respond to the issues that we will raise. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}