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{
"id": 192685,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/192685/?format=api",
"text_counter": 154,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Prof. Saitoti",
"speaker_title": "The Minister of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security",
"speaker": {
"id": 205,
"legal_name": "George Muthengi Kinuthia Saitoti",
"slug": "george-saitoti"
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"content": " Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to make my contributions to this Budget. At the very outset, I want to commend the Minister for Finance who, under an extremely difficult situation, has produced a very sound Budget. I say so because this Budget has been formulated against a very hostile economic environment, both globally and also here. Globally, it is a well known fact that today's international economy has also come under great stress by virtue of the fact that oil prices have increased to a very high level, which is totally unprecedented in the world! Today, oil prices stand at more than US$130 per barrel. Even of much more importance is the high rise of food prices. All those factors have created major problems. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, locally here, there is no doubt that our own country is naturally faced with the same problems. That is because what happens internationally has an impact on the domestic economy. Therefore, here, we are also hard hit by the very high prices of petroleum products. Given the fact that our own manufacturing and the productive sector very much depend on oil, it is no doubt that the high price of that commodity has adversely affected our own position. Food has become expensive because the inputs such as fertilizers have become expensive. Notwithstanding that, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we also had a problem of the past. This country was put under great pressure as a result of the post elections violence, which scared away investors in the initial stages. It also created fundamental problems in terms of scaring the tourists from coming to this country and, at the same time, it also created a problem of the shortage of food by virtue of the fact that quite a number of Kenyans had to move away from their own places. Similarly again, we had difficulties of the weather. All those factors have all conspired to create an extremely difficult situation. I do agree wholeheartedly with the Minister for Finance when he stated that this is one of his most difficult budgets to formulate. I think I would have been in the same situation. But I do commend him. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I commend the Minister because this Budget has formulated very profound sectorial policies; all of which are focused on regenerating growth to ensure that fundamentals of micro economics are safeguarded. Those policies, once implemented, will lead us to the generation of more employment opportunities. They will ensure that this country will become a very important destination of investments. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when you look at the measures or policies that the Minister has actually highlighted, they are very commendable. I salute the Minister for coming up with an important innovation of financing fundamental projects like infrastructure through Public-Private Sector Partnership. I am talking about the fact that the Minister intends to, indeed, float a bond of Kshs51 billion for the purpose of infrastructure. It is going to be dedicated for expansion and repair of our roads. I believe the same will also be used for the purpose of increasing the energy resources. This is extremely important because our economy is not going to be competitive, unless we do something to improve our infrastructure, and the road network is an important aspect. The improvement of our energy sector and provision of water are also important factors. It is my hope that, we will do these things. As the economy improves, more of those things are going to be sorted out so that we can mobilise substantial resources both locally and internationally, which are going to be used to improve our infrastructure. This is what other countries have done. I am also happy that, indeed, direct Government resources of Kshs65 billion is going to be June 24, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1333 used to improve the road network. Indeed, the Minister has set aside funds for other infrastructural Ministries such as the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and that of Energy. I am, indeed, so happy that the Minister has set aside resources for alternative energy. Given the fact that energy prices have become expensive, especially those related to petroleum products, Kenya now will need to explore alternative sources of energy. We have the sun and geothermal resources, and this should be taken into account. I am very happy and I commend the Minister for the good work. It is his realisation that, we are indeed, living in a knowledge world. This knowledge world is dominated by two fundamental factors. One of them is science and technology. The other one is the Information Communication and Technology (ICT). Unless we invest in these fundamental areas, we are going to be left behind. I, therefore, want to express my happiness of the fact that the pivotal role of science and technology has for the first time been put here. This is by the fact that we were informed by the Minister that there is going to be a Bill, which will establish an important arena for vision of science and technology. The National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) will be elevated to a commission, which is very important. The starting up of our foundation science, research and innovation is exactly what could have been done a long time ago. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it important too that, also in the ICT, it has been recognised as substantial resources being put here which will establish fundamental connectivity between Kenya and the world. I am referring to the continuation of the underground fibre optic cable. This will help us a lot in terms of accessing the rest of the world. This is because a lot of things are done today through ICT, including placement of advertisement, tenders and e-mail. We got to be part of the world to be competitive. This is a global world. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am, indeed, happy that education continues to occupy the Minister's mind. We cannot move very far without deepening our commitment to education. Slightly over five years ago, we established the Free Primary Education. It is something that nobody felt we could do it. But we established the free primary education and proved the sceptics wrong. Today, over eight million Kenyan children are having free primary education. It was a statement to the world that Kenya Government cares for the youth and future of this country, hence that investment are in the human development sector. It is true that as that base has expanded, definitely, we do not want this wastage. That is why the free secondary education and many day secondary schools have been established. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have seen a phenomenon of development from only one million students in the secondary school. We are now looking at a figure of almost of 1.5 million children going to secondary school. Fairly soon, this is going to expand. We need to think about this growth. Secondary education lays the foundation for the science and technology. This is where it is based and not at the primary school level. Once you lay an important foundation for science and technology in secondary, then you are assured of being able to embrace science and technology. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Minister talked about the provision of colossal amount of money, over Kshs5 billion, which will be used to finance the free secondary education. I think we are doing the right thing. I want to say here, having been the Minister for Education, whatever one says, Kenya should be proud of the fact that we are providing free primary education, quality education and free secondary education. The module we have used in this innovation will be adopted by all the other countries. So, I am happy that there are even more resources being dedicated to our university education. I have no doubt that the Minister has done us proud. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}