HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 195498,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/195498/?format=api",
"text_counter": 163,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Linturi",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 69,
"legal_name": "Franklin Mithika Linturi",
"slug": "franklin-linturi"
},
"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I also rise to support the Motion. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to make a few observations. I want to start by saying that the whole essence why the Supplementary Estimates are brought here is to seek approval of Parliament. The other function that Parliament plays in the Supplementary Budget is that of the watchdog. As it is now, I would say that I have been ambushed by the Supplementary Estimates, as such, I may not be able to play my watchdog role as required by law. We all realise that the Budget cycle is well known in this country. I want to make a humble request that the time of submitting the Supplementary Estimates be definite in future so that the House can have adequate time to scrutinise it. I wish to suggest that at least two weeks should be given to the House to debate the Supplementary Estimates. The second thing is that I am glad that the Minister has brought the expenditure side which is very elaborately as captured in the Supplementary Estimates. The Minister has assured the House that there is adequate revenue to finance this Supplementary Budget. I heard him mention that he has raised enough money from the Safaricom Initial Public Offer (IPO). But I thought the Safaricom IPO was already anticipated in the Printed Estimates. I hope that we are not double counting here. The other thing which I want to observe is the amount of money that is being gobbled by our debt. I am referring to both the external and internal debt combined plus their interests which consumes about 10 per cent of the Recurrent Budget. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have had occasions to hear many loyal Kenyans appealing for writing-off of the debts. I would wish that the Minister makes a point of availing to Members the register of our outstanding debts. We usually send out an appeal for these debts to be reduced, but we do so in darkness. We do not know how much of which debt is still outstanding. We also do not know their terms and when they were taken. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to say something about the Development Vote. I have noticed that on the Ministry of Roads, which was originally under the Ministry of Roads and Public Works, there is a reduction of Kshs2.5 billion. There is also an increase of Kshs1.5 billion on the side of the Ministry of Public Works. My constituency and other constituencies have suffered due to poor infrastructure for a long time. When I see the Development Vote being reduced, yet some of my roads have always had money allocated to them being reallocated elsewhere, I feel pitched. I would wish that adequate resources be given to the Ministry of Roads so that roads in my constituency can also benefit. I know the Budget today is a programme-based Budget. One of the reasons why we had post election violence, of course, apart from what caused it, was because most of our youths are idle. It is very important that this House spends money in a manner that can create employment for the youth. I have always suggested that we need to expand this economy, so that it can run for 24 hours. All we need is just light and we shall do the rest. I am glad there is adequate provision to the Ministry of Energy. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other thing is that, in five weeks time, we will be doing the Budget for the next financial year. As the Minister has said, the economy is doing very well. The last time here, we urged him to increase the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF). I want to suggest that if the CDF is to be increased, hopefully, to 5 per cent or 6 per cent, the additional money, I would suggest be distributed on affirmative action. You will realise that certain areas of this country are not as endowed as others in terms of infrastructure. That really affects them. An effort should be made to uplift them through an affirmative allocation of CDF. I am also happy to note that there has been an allocation for food security. An amount of Kshs2.2 billion has been allocated for strategic stock. I want to say that the National Cereals and April 30, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 807 Produce Board (NCPB) is fairly well spread in this country. In my constituency, for example, the NCPB has never seen stocks. I would request that upon this food being purchased, let us have the stock being distributed across the country, so that the entire country can enjoy equitably. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}