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{
    "id": 20152,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/20152/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 505,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ms. Karua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 166,
        "legal_name": "Martha Wangari Karua",
        "slug": "martha-karua"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to oppose the Bill and I think that by opposing it and calling for it to be withdrawn, rectified and brought back, does not put the country into any jeopardy. We passed the Vote on Account and every arm of Government is functioning. I oppose it because I believe that the Government’s priorities are wrong. In most of the areas, it is okay but a Government that does not prioritize the education of our children, that over-funds areas that necessarily do not need as much funding, some Ministries which requested for less and got more, I think the Government needs to go back to the drawing board, re-arrange the priorities and get the Kshs5 billion for teachers. It is not right for them to tell teachers that they are negotiating with them knowing fully well that after we pass this Appropriation Bill, teachers will be locked out of this particular Budget. Unless next year there will be Supplementary Estimates, when we pass this, teachers will be locked out. Why mislead the teachers that anything will come out of the negotiations when we know that we are locking them out? The Budget Committee and several Members of Parliament, including myself, had sat down to try and move some money towards teachers. That is what was removed from this House last week and it is what is being now locked out. I think Parliament is making a fundamental mistake and we are laying a terrible foundation for future Parliaments. That is because the power of the purse does not lie with the Government or the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance. In a presidential system, the power of the purse lies with the House. This House had become complacent. We have failed to be assertive. We have let things pass even when we know they are wrong. Yesterday, almost every Member in this House was supporting the Motion of Adjournment saying that teachers need to get additional money. Where are those voices today? Is it that we were contributing to pacify teachers and make them think that we wanted money found for them? Today, there are no voices for teachers. I think we better be very upfront. Let teachers and Kenyans know: “Sorry, it is not this year. Anybody going to negotiate with teachers must be frank enough to tell them: “We locked you out through the Appropriations Bill and you will not get a cent this year. The teachers on contract will not be employed.” I am urging the teachers on contract to look for a lawyer and sue because they are being discriminated. The Constitution does not allow discrimination. Our labour laws do not allow discrimination. They cannot be employed on contract and yet, they are doing the same work as the people on permanent and pensionable basis. We better seriously think on how well we want to uphold the Constitution we swore to uphold as Members of Parliament, and which Members of the Cabinet swore to uphold. We better know that this is a war, not against teachers, but against our own children. I want to stand here and proclaim that I am a product of a public school. I am certain that a majority of Members of this House are products of public schools. We are talking about access to quality education and not just access to any type of education. We have no right to deny our children and the future of this country access to quality education. Let the Government stop playing lip service. This is the time to act. The only action available is to withdraw this Appropriation Bill and to bring a Bill that truly puts the money where the mouths are. If you say you support teachers, let the teachers have money. Let out children have money to have instructions in the classrooms. I need not enumerate the many areas we could shift money---"
}