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"id": 193112,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Koech",
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"legal_name": "David Kibet Koech",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity. Yesterday, business was interrupted when I had just taken the Floor to contribute to the Budget Speech. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it should go on record that the interruption yesterday was mainly because we lost our colleagues and there were several meetings going on. Some meetings were being conducted in Harambee House. As a result of those meetings, many hon. Members were not able to be in the House. Today, it is also worth noting that most Questions were dropped basically because the House is not yet really in the mood to conduct its business because of our departed colleagues. Last week, I remember you made a ruling that if it were not because of the Budget Speech, we would have actually had an extension of the adjournment. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would, on a very sincere note, thank the Minister for Finance for giving us a Budget that reflects what we want as a country. There is need for us, as a country, to restore the economy back on a higher growth path. He tried to be as balanced as possible. We, as a country discussing a Budget of over Kshs500 billion, should be in a position to ensure that we take a path that will make us become self-sustaining and self-sufficient. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with that in mind, I would like to note that there is a need for us, as a country, to address the following issues. There is need for a Budget Office in this country. This office is long overdue. I believe it will be able to address the regional inequalities and imbalances as regards the usage of money allocate to various Ministries. At the moment, it is unfortunate that the development in this country is at the mercy of who-is-who in this country. In some areas, development depends on the Minister in charge of that Ministry. For example, we see many development in areas where the Ministers come from. The Members of Parliament have also been left at the mercy of who is your friend in the Ministries, so that there could be development in their respective areas. There is a need for a Budget Office to ensure that the money allocated to every Ministry reaches every corner of this country because we want to develop as one country and nation. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF), we appreciate its introduction in this country. As a result CDF, there has been speedy development at the constituency levels of this country. Many schools and health centres have been built. This is a gesture to show that if we move in that direction, this country will be able to go very far in terms of development. We are aware that we are a Grand Coalition Government, especially with regard to devolution of resources to the local level. I would have wished to see a situation where the Minister for Finance thought very critically on the need to increase the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) money, because that is the only money we are sure that it reaches the grassroots. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the youth of this country are a very important group. They are the majority and are the future leadership of this country. I would like to appreciate the Kshs250 million which was allocated to youth empowerment centres. I would also like to comment the Minister for increasing the Youth Enterprise Development Fund by Kshs500,000. I would also like 1206 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 18, 2008 to appreciate the Kshs465 million given for free tuition in accredited technical training and vocational colleges. The Minister showed concern that the youth need to be absorbed into employment. We would like to see the Government practising what it says. As a country, we have a culture where we keep on giving contracts to those whose time has expired. We keep on having civil servants who have stayed beyond retirement age. These are people who have already invested, and have some resources. It is unfortunate that we keep them at the cost of the youth, who are yet to even earn a shilling. There is need to address this anomaly. The Kshs1 million given for soccer in constituencies is a very good gesture. That will go along way in building soccer in our country. We have seen that people in Kenya really love soccer. Unfortunately, they are being directed to the game outside Kenya. We would like to bring them back to love the game in the country. Therefore, there is need for more allocation of funds to soccer in this country. We would like to see the Government employing soccer players on a permanent basis as happens in European countries. Athletes have brought a lot of good to this country in terms of development and building our name. I would like to see more funds being allocated to the athletes, who are developing at the grassroots. At the moment, most of them practise on bare feet. Those who are lucky not to injure themselves end up being the world champions. Therefore, there is need to address the issues of athletes' needs. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the money allocated to the National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS), Kshs8 billion, is too much. This is a group of people who have failed this country. What happened last year in this country, if they were on duty and working, we would have avoided it. Much of this money seems to be going to campaigns. There is no need to put a lot of money in things which assist in campaigns. There is need to redirect that money to youth programmes. Regarding education, I would like to sincerely thank the Minister for allocating more money to free primary and free secondary education. It is a pity that having allocated money to the free secondary education, the implementation of the same has been wanting. It is so painful to note that schools have been running without money, and, as a result, you realise that so many schools have gone on strike. When we allocate money, there is need for that money to reach the schools in time. Due to the conditions given, there are many schools which have not benefitted today in the villages. Schools, where the children of the really poor, whom we thought we were targeting, are yet to benefit from this money. There is need to expedite release of this money, and ensure that the schools are stabilised within the shortest time possible. The quality of education in those schools is also very important to note. We are spending over Kshs117 billion on education. Having children in school who do not have enough teachers is bad. It is more of wasting money where we know we may not reap fruits within the shortest time possible. We require 60,000 teachers in this country, yet the Ministry has budgeted for only 6,000 new teachers. There is need to address that issue, so that we have more teachers being employed to ensure that the gap in our schools is taken care of. Mr. Speaker, Sir, agriculture is important and it is unfortunate that, as a country, we have not given enough resources to the agricultural sector, which is the backbone of the Kenyan economy. We would like to see more incentives being given to our farmers, so that they may prepare their farms and plant in time so as to get enough to feed this country. Regarding the donor funds, we would like to appreciate the donors who have kept on assisting our country by funding many projects in the country. When you look at the donor funds which come to our country, we would like to say that we must make maximum use of this money with a view to ensuring that we are self-sustaining in the near future. Much of that money is never discussed. It is my request that the money from donors passes through this House, so that we discuss it and ensure that the disbursement of the same reaches every corner of this country. With maximum use of the Budget prepared, then within one year we should see this country moving in June 18, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1207 the right direction. Thank you."
}