HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 192701,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/192701/?format=api",
"text_counter": 170,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Mwakulegwa",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 101,
"legal_name": "Danson Mwazo Mwakulegwa",
"slug": "danson-mwazo"
},
"content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker. I will restrict myself June 24, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1341 to English. As I was saying, I am going to focus on areas where we could save money as a country. As I said, I am looking at Recurrent Expenditure. Last year, the Government spent Kshs2.16 billion on hospitality. That translates to about Kshs5.7 million per day. If we could reduce that amount of money, we would have huge savings. Even if Members of Parliament are not taxed, we could save a lot of money from that. For example, the Minister for Finance said that he was going to increase his hospitality budget from Kshs500,000 to Kshs728,000 per day. This expenditure is uncalled for. If you look at the other recurrent expenditure utilities, we spent Kshs2 billion to pay for water, electricity and other things. If you look at the expenditure by State House, you will realise that it spends more than the 30 Ministries in terms of paying for these utilities. It is important for the Government to make sure that though it is not under a microscope, these expenses could be huge savings for this Government and Kenyans. When it comes to paying rent, you will be surprised that we spend Kshs3.9 billion, while the Government only collected Kshs239 million out of which, Kshs210 million was collected from the KICC. Therefore, if we could utilise the Government buildings like Nyayo House and others, the Government could save a lot of money from that. With regard to printing, the Government Printer is supposed to be the only printing press used by the Government. However, the Ministries go out to out-source printing services. For example, last year, we spend Kshs2.2 billion on out-sourced printing services for the Government, whereas we have a fully-fledged Government Printing Press. Had we used it much more efficiently, we could have saved this money. Secondly, there is a lot of trash and paper all over in the Government buildings. Maybe it will be a good idea if we set up a paper recycling plant for the Government so that they can utilise these paper and reprint using the same. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, another area where we spend a lot of money is foreign trips. Even during the crisis, we saw Government delegations touring overseas. Last year we spend Kshs2 billion. This amounts to about Kshs6.7 million per day. If we could cut down on these foreign trips of huge delegations which are not necessary, we could also save a lot of money. There is also an Item where State House is getting new cars worth Kshs73 million. Now, last year's Budget had a similar amount of money which was used to buy new cars for State House. It is important to note that currently, State House has 149 cars. If every year we have the same allocation for buying new cars, what will happen to the old cars? Does it mean that these cars are obsolete? So, it is an area we could look at and save a lot. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I know that we are not supposed to discuss internal security matters, however, it is surprising that Kshs47 billion is proposed to be used by the National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS), Armed Forces and the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC). Though we are not supposed to discuss about national security issues, when it comes to KACC, I thought this is a transparent body whereby we should have been told how much will be spend and how much money is allocated to this body. That way, it would be very transparent when it comes to handling their own budget. Another area of concern is that there was Kshs4 billion which was to be paid to KENREN Fertiliser Company. This company does not exist. The fertiliser plant ought to have been approved by Parliament in 1970 and it was to be located somewhere in Mombasa, but it was never built. This Item is, however, in the Budget. It is important for the Minister to really tell this House where that money will be going to. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, with regard to the youth, it is noteworthy that Kshs5 million was allocated to the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF). However, as it has been said before, it has been very difficult for the youth, especially in Voi Constituency to get this money because the requirements are very stringent and punitive to some extent. I would like to 1342 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 24, 2008 urge the Minister to put in place a much more friendly approach to the youth so that they can get money from the YEDF. The other issue is with regard to the youth empowerment centres. We have Kshs250 million. I do not know if this is for the whole country. If, indeed it is, will it be allocated per constituency? We need to know what each constituency will get so that this youth empowerment centres could be developed. With regard to the roads network, there was mention of Garissa-Hola Road where Kshs900 million will be used to construct the road. There is, however, an old road from Voi to Taveta which has been mentioned many times in this august House, but up to now, it has not been tarmacked. It would have been good if the Minister considered the Voi-Taveta Road and constructed it. We believe that this road will open up northern Tanzania and increase business for the Port of Mombasa. It will also open up the towns between Mombasa and Arusha. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the other area of concern is the Kshs200 million which was allocated for the improvement of Marsabit and Maralal water supply. Nothing was mentioned about the Mzima Springs Phase II Water which supplies water to Voi all the way to Mombasa. While the President was opening the Tenth Parliament, he mentioned the Mzima Springs Phase II Water Project."
}