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"id": 192731,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/192731/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dr. Monda",
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"speaker": {
"id": 83,
"legal_name": "Robert Onsare Monda",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I stand to contribute to the Budget Speech that was read in this House a few days back. There are many service Ministries and departments in this Government, and I want to comment on a few. June 24, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1353 Regarding Education, we have given it some reasonable funding, but the teacher/pupil ratio is still an issue in this country. As much as we talk about having free primary and secondary education, we have the problem of shortage of teachers. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the second item will be on health. I want to comment on it as the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Health, Housing, Labour and Social Welfare. As much as we have what has been allocated to health, the Ministry has still indicated that there is a deficit in its budget. However, as much as we need drugs and other necessities for the operation of health facilities, I want to propose that there is, of course, an obvious gap. We need sufficient numbers of doctors and nurses. We need to employ those people to offer proper service to Kenyans. I propose that the future Budget should address the issue of employing sufficient numbers of staff in the health sector. Further, the area of HIV/AIDS has, all the time, depended on donor funds. Most of the funds utilized in this country come from the donors. My proposal would be that the Government should reach a point - and the point is now - that we improve on the allocation to HIV/AIDS. Since it is a national concern, then our efforts should be reflected in the allocation that we give to that particular area. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we are losing staff from the health sector because of the way we are remunerating them. We need to improve on that, so that the doctors and nurses do not move out of this country to look for greener pastures elsewhere. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on agriculture, there is an obvious gap in the allocation. The Minister has stated many times that we need up to Kshs10 billion to fill the gap. Currently, we are talking about worldwide starvation. In Kenya, the technocrats have told us that we need an additional Kshs10 billion, so that we do not depend on looking for food outside this country; a country that can produce sufficiently for its populace. It is important that we allocate sufficient funds for our own agricultural production. We should produce enough food and feed our people. Currently, we are talking about importing food and yet, we have soils and climate that can support our own production. It is my proposal that we look at the seed budget. We should improve our seeds to the levels that are recommended by our technocrats, so that we can have sufficient food for this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the issue of taxation has been raised in the House. The allowances paid to Members of Parliament should be taxed. That is a good idea, indeed. My concerns are on the utilization of the taxes. As much as we want Members of Parliament to be taxed, the approach of issues that have been proposed by the Minister for Finance-- A Budget is a proposal to the House. The approach that has been taken by some Members of this House is not proper. They have carried the proposal out of this House and debated it outside there."
}