HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 195502,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/195502/?format=api",
"text_counter": 167,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Bahari",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 156,
"legal_name": "Abdul Bahari Ali Jillo",
"slug": "bahari-ali-jillo"
},
"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to join my colleagues in supporting this Motion. This is so because I think the Minister has really tried to exercise prudence under very difficult circumstances. However, I also wish to revisit the issue of insecurity. I was surprised when the Member for Igembe North told a story that is very similar to mine. I also had some livestock stolen in my constituency. When I talked to the concerned security officers, they told me that they had no vehicle. None of the police divisions had vehicles. In fact, it was such a serious problem that they had to rely on a vehicle from the police headquarters. I am surprised that his story is similar to mine. I do not know whether there is a go-slow. In fact, I am beginning to think differently now. The Member for Igembe North is in a different district from mine. We may be neighbours, but I am surprised that his case is similar to mine. It is a photocopy of mine. The stealing goes unabated and yet we have voted before in this House, even in the Ninth Parliament, for police vehicles. What are we expected to do now at the end of the day? Since the Minister is here, I think it is a matter of serious concern. We should not take this issue very lightly. It cannot just be a coincidence. So, we wish to see improvement in services. It looks like, generally, we are losing direction on a lot of things. I do not know if it is because of what we had in the beginning of the year that we are completely destabilized to a level that we cannot stand up and walk now. If we continue, as is the tradition, blaming the situation on what has taken place, say, a few weeks ago or two years ago, then we are in for a difficult time. I remember when we had El Nino, even three to six years down April 30, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 811 the line, Kenyans continue to blame the El Nino for their failure. I hope we will not do the same in this particular instance of what happened in December, 2007 and January, 2008 to the extent that we cannot now function as a State. It is in the public domain that project implementation has not been very good this financial year. A lot of resources that have been budgeted for are still outstanding. They have not been utilised and that denies services to Kenyans. That is very possible. However, the Minister, being a professional accountant, knows that if you do not provide those services, it goes with a cost. We expect the Ministry to come up with measures to ensure that implementation is done speedily. The problem with this country is that we keep on saying that this and that has happened. We easily give excuses instead of taking counter-measures. It is when that problem arises and how innovative you become in that Ministry, as a driving force, that really matters. That makes a difference, instead of just lying helpless and giving excuses or reasons. What on earth can you not give a reason for? For every failure, you can give a reason. What is most important is not the reason that you give, but how you are able to rise up to that challenge and ensure that you mitigate against the effects of, perhaps, the unforeseen situations. So, I would appeal to the Minister - and this starts even with the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) and all those other resources - to give a guideline on how those things should move. He should remove all the bottlenecks so that Kenyans, actually, enjoy the money that they have been taxed and is lying with the Treasury. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want the Minister, in his resource allocation criteria, to be extremely transparent. That is because he is a politician. The issue of resource allocation, particularly, in relation to decentralisation and affirmative action is what determines whether a sitting Government will continue after an election or not. I think this matter must be taken very seriously. It is extremely important that affirmative action is taken and, more so, positively by those in positions. In this respect, I wish to appreciate the fact that the Kenya Government has come up with the Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands. I believe that it is intended to focus on those areas for the purpose of development. Arid and Semi-Arid Lands make up 80 per cent of this Republic. You cannot say you are in the driver's seat on development matters and afford to ignore 80 per cent. You do that at your own peril! You will not go anywhere. You will just go into history as one who has not performed. Looking at the functions of this Ministry, a lot of subjects have been brought under it. I expect, perhaps, a few months down the line, when the Minister is reading his Budget and bringing the Estimates here, some figure that is quite impressive--- In fact, it could be the highest! I suspect that northern Kenya and other arid areas, for purposes of affirmative action, and by the fact that they make up 80 per cent of the Republic; and for all the other reasons that are obvious, the Ministry to have a budget that is more than, perhaps, any other Ministry. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to talk about poverty in this country. Whatever we do must be seen to be alleviating poverty in this country. Yet, it is increasing. So, we need to re- assess what we have been doing over a period of time, or since Independence. Perhaps, it is quite clear that the actions that we have taken are the ones which have bred poverty in this country. Perhaps, more relevant right now is the issue of inflation. Already, we have a big burden of 57 per cent of the population who cannot afford a decent meal. With all this inflation, what is likely to happen? I think that is a very serious challenge for the Minister for Finance. We expect this Ministry to effectively address that matter. I must say that, perhaps, these are very difficult times. We know what the international situation is like regarding the issue of oil prices. We also know what the internal situation is like, including the IDPs and all that. But at the same time, that is just, in my view, a challenge. The Ministry must meet the expectations of Kenyans and, perhaps, be a leader in this area to ensure that 812 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 30, 2008 Kenyans do not suffer. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to support."
}