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{
"id": 192194,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/192194/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Chachu",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 18,
"legal_name": "Francis Chachu Ganya",
"slug": "francis-ganya"
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"content": "Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I stand to support the Motion. It was 1388 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 25, 2008 well thought out and covered most of the aspects that need to be considered in the development of our nation. In particular, I commend the Minister for making serious commitments in the development of the infrastructure of this country. It is laudable that Kshs65 billion will be used to finance the road network in the whole of our country. The road network is critical for the development of this nation. That includes the development of roads in the rural areas to enable farmers to get their products to the market. I also want to commend the Minister for investing in renewable sources of energy. Environmental conservation is critical and very crucial for sustainable development of this nation. I commend the Minister, in particular, for investing over Kshs300 million in solar energy and over Kshs400 million in wind energy. Over Kshs4 billion is also invested in the expansion of geothermal energy output in this country. That is commendable. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I also commend the Government for investing in rural electrification. I come from northern part of Kenya and I am glad to say that, in the last two years, most towns in rural areas like Marsabit and Maralal have been supplied with electricity. For the first time in many years, some homes have been supplied with electricity. Many of our secondary and primary schools, even in arid areas, have been installed with solar energy. Our students can read even late at night. That is really commendable because most of our schools - and I say that coming from one of the most remote and rural constituency in this country - have been installed with solar energy. Our students are able to invest their time, even at night, to educate themselves. I also commend the Government for furthering its vision to provide affordable - I will not call it free - secondary education to enable our youth to get free tuition whenever they join vocational schools as well as technical training institutions that are accredited by the Ministry. That is commendable because we have so many youths who are not able to join tertiary colleges as well as universities. But with that kind of support from the State, they will be able to join vocational training as well as accredited technical training colleges and gain some skills which will be vital in their lives. It is commendable that the Minister has invested over Kshs465 million towards that particular venture. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I also appreciate the fact that the Minister, in particular, invested over Kshs200 million into the Marsabit and Maralal water supply. I live in Marsabit and I have seen the kind of water problems that people face both in Maralal and Marsabit. I commend the Minister for, specifically, addressing the water problem in those two towns in northern Kenya. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the Minister recognised the existing regional development disparities in this country. While he went to a great length talking about disparities, particularly in terms of development of Northern Kenya and other marginalised parts of this country, it is disappointing that very little money has been set aside to ensure proper development of those areas, which have been marginalised for a long time. The minimal investment of about Kshs400 million that has been allocated to the Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya and Other Arid Lands is really a joke. If the Government is really serious about investing in Northern Kenya and promoting development of the region, it should have allocated more funds. The major problem in the northern part of Kenya is drought and other drought-related problems. Very little was factored in this Budget to enable the people of Northern Kenya to have effective drought management strategies that are proactive, and which will make them less vulnerable when they are faced with that calamity. Very little money has been set aside for the development of the water sector in the ASAL areas. Without adequate water supply for livestock and production of crops that can grow in ASAL environment, the problem of food security and drought will continue being with us. This will be a major problem for the wholistic development of this nation. June 25, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1389 Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, finally, investment in the health sector is not something to be, really, proud of. Compared to investment in other sectors, the amount of money that has been allocated for the development of hospitals and health centres, and for procurement of drugs, is minimal. I come from a constituency where so many health centres and dispensaries are hardly staffed. Without adequate resources, health centres and dispensaries will stay without proper staffing for a long time, denying rural Kenyans this very vital service, in terms of support for their own health. Again, regional disparities in resource allocation is very evident. The whole of Northern Kenya and other arid areas have received a paltry Kshs2.4 billion through budgetary allocations to the various Ministries. On the other hand, the Central Province, as small as it is, has received over Kshs5 billion. If this Government is serious about narrowing the economic disparities amongst the various regions of this country, it should allocate resources equitably. The manner in which resources have been allocated in this Budget, surely, shows that we are not serious about fostering a wholistic development of this country. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, allocating only Kshs2.4 billion to Northern Kenya and other arid areas, through the various Ministries, is really a joke, especially noting that the Central Province, as small as it is, has been allocated over Kshs5 billion. This is not something to be encouraged. With this kind of inequity in distribution of resources, this country cannot have the kind of development envisaged under Vision 2030. With those few remarks, I support the Motion."
}