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"id": 195500,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/195500/?format=api",
"text_counter": 165,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. ole Metito",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Regional Development Authorities",
"speaker": {
"id": 199,
"legal_name": "Judah Katoo Ole-Metito",
"slug": "judah-ole-metito"
},
"content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Motion. From the outset, I want to support this Motion. First, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Minister for Finance and his team of able staff for having done well in that Ministry. For the last five years the economy has been growing. It has been very impressive. I know that it is because of the tireless efforts by the able Minister and his able team in the Treasury. Even in this very situation and circumstances in our country after the December elections, they have done fairly well. They have worked hard in the collection of revenue. We must congratulate them and say that it is a job well done. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I just want to say two or three things on these Supplementary Estimates. First, I would like to appeal to the KRA that there is a facility in my constituency, that is Loitokitok Constituency at the border, which is really under-utilised. It is a big facility that can do this country a lot of good in terms of improving this economy, the but the KRA has not thought it wise to utilise that facility. Even in the last Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Report that was adopted by this House two weeks ago, the facility was mentioned as one of the dens of corruption. The budget for that facility was exceeded by 64 per cent, and I think it is not fair. For the last five years I have been in this House, I have always been asking the KRA to do something with that facility to benefit the locals in that place and the country at large. A big facility like that can do a lot of good for this country. So, the KRA should do something about it and utilise all the units, or even turn it into an institution. As the local community, we have been recommending that it needs to be either a health institution, a teacher training college or even a Customs training institute for the East African region, because it is at the border. It is very strategic and, therefore, the KRA could make good use of it. It is my humble appeal that this time round, the KRA should do something with that facility. It is not yet complete, yet its budget has been exceeded by 64 per cent. The facility has no water, yet in the PAC Report it was indicated that there was a provision for a big borehole and a high- powered water tank, but the facility cannot operate because there is no water. I hope that the Minister and the KRA team are listening and will work on it this time round. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, regarding the Motion, I would like to kindly appeal to the Minister that there are some sectors which were adversely affected, not just by the post-election violence, but even by other factors like the drought. I am particular about the Ministry of Agriculture. We are still an agricultural economy. Agriculture is still the backbone of our economy, and I think a lot of money needs to be given to the Ministry of Agriculture, specifically for two things: One, the issue of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB). Many farmers are yet to be paid for their produce that they delivered to the NCPB since May last year. Specifically, in my constituency farmers have been delivering their maize to the Board since May. So, they are owed money to the tune of over Kshs70 million. From these Supplementary Estimates I would wish that the Minister allocates more funds to the Ministry of Agriculture, so that it can clear those debts before we go to the next financial year. Schools are opening next week and farmers have nothing to pay for school fees. Still on the Ministry of Agriculture, I would wish that the Minister allocates more money for the purposes of the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) loans; the Government should write off the loans owed by the farmers. These farmers were adversely affected by the drought shortly before the last general election, but after the Budget had been read, again, they have been hit by the post-election violence. This time round, there is really enough reason for the AFC loans to be written-off by the Ministry for the good of those farmers. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, regarding the Office of the President, last year so April 30, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 809 many districts were created and we can now see services closer to the people, but some of the new districts cannot function very well, because they were created after the Budget had been read. I would wish that the Minister allocates more money to the Office of the President for the good functioning of the new districts, which were created after the Budget had been read. You will find a new district with heads of departments but they are not mobile. They cannot move around and offer the required services. Even regarding security for those new districts, it would not be of any use if we said that we need districts so that we bring services closer to the people, and after they are created no services are provided to the people. Therefore, I think it is good that more money is given to the OP to enable it provide services. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, regarding my Ministry of Regional Development Authorities, it is a very important Ministry, although it has not been taken that way in the past. The Ministry has six regional Authorities that cover the whole of this country. If enough money is allocated to this Ministry, a lot of natural resources in the regions could be harnessed through that Ministry for the benefit of the various communities. It is my appeal that even if it is not possible to accommodate, in these Supplementary Estimates, the Minister should look into other ways of assisting it. We are in the process of formulating the next financial year's Budget. I just want to candidly appeal to his team that, this service Ministry be given adequate resources. It can really change the lives of the people of this country through harnessing resources like water, eco-tourism and conservation of the environment in the regions. It is important that the Ministry be allocated adequate resources. As we speak now, it is one of the most under-funded Ministries. I do not think it is fair. I support the Motion, and I am sure that the Minister is going to look into my appeal in the next financial year. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}