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{
    "id": 212060,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/212060/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 225,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Raila",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 195,
        "legal_name": "Raila Amolo Odinga",
        "slug": "raila-odinga"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Sir. I am concerned about this Motion because it requires a Government policy to create 500,000 jobs annually. Basically, it says that, that has not happened. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, these are policy issues which political parties prepare and use in their manifestos in election campaigns. I do not think really that, that is the responsibility of this House. Otherwise, there will be no difference between political parties. Why do we throw out parties from power? We throw political parties from power because their policies have failed them. If the House is going to come up with a Motion that urges the Government to do \"A\", \"B\", \"C\", \"D\", then there would be no need for parties and competition. So, the NARC Government promised to create 500,000 jobs. That has not happened. We need to hold them to account as we go for elections this year that they have failed to do so. If another party comes to power after the elections next year, that party will again be held to account for the promises it makes to the people. July 25, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 27 It is not the responsibility of Parliament to tell parties how to do what they set out to do. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I hold a different view. The Motion reads:- \"---noting that good governance measures so far undertaken have plugged leakages in revenue collection and public expenditure...\" That is a very sweeping statement without much evidence to show that! Yes, revenue collection has increased. But at what cost to the business community? The amount of extortion that goes on in the private sector is excessive. As result of that, a number of companies have closed down. Some are even contemplating to close down. There is a lot of collusion among revenue collecting agencies to defraud the Government of revenue. I have with me here, details of how the Government is being fleeced by some of those people. We do not desire to increase employment in the public sector. That is because, at the moment, we have a bloated public sector. This Motion is saying that we should employ 250,000 people in the public sector. What for? It is the private sector which should be creating employment, and not the public sector. The bloated public sector should retrench, so that we could have a slimmer and more efficient public sector. With those few remarks, I beg to oppose the Motion."
}