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"id": 217591,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/217591/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Muchiri",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Local Government",
"speaker": {
"id": 225,
"legal_name": "Muchiri Geoffrey Gachara",
"slug": "geoffrey-gachara"
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this chance to contribute to this very important debate. On the outset, I feel that the Minister did his best to deliver a Budget Speech that was fairly balanced and forward-looking. This Government is determined to care for the poor. This Government will struggle to ensure that there is equity in this country. From the time that the Kibaki Administration took power in 2003, we engaged ourselves in a strategy to improve our economy. We also undertook to have programmes that would reduce poverty and improve equity. We also undertook to improve governance in this country. The economy has grown and there is no question about it. Agriculture grew from negative 3 per cent to 5.4 per cent as it is enumerated in the Minister's Speech. Wholesale and retail trade also increased to about 10.9 per cent in 2006. These are some of the indications that the economy is actually doing well. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it was also reported that the market capitalization in the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) increased many folds, nearly six or seven times. It is important for us to realise and visualise that this economy, if well nurtured, can go to greater heights. The Minister alluded to Vision 2030, and I support it. However, I also feel that we should not dwell so much on the future. I think the present is here with us and we should ensure that the present is comfortable so that as we go to Vision 2030, at least, the ordinary wananchi will have benefited from the current blossoming of the economy. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as we look ahead, as a Government, we want to improve in a number of areas. It is true that, perhaps, we are talking of the economy having improved because, at least, the ordinary mwananchi can now deliver his milk. That is why there is some money in his pocket. We can also say that some employment opportunities have been created through the various devolved funds. We are proud of the kind of change that the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) has brought in this economy. At least, we can pride ourselves that in every corner of this country, money has trickled down to the very lower level. It is also gratifying to note that, that money is used by the community in a particular locality. If this continues, the economy will continue to improve. Of course, there is quite a bit of concern that the ordinary mwananchi may not be feeling the change in the economy. This is, perhaps, the challenge that we need to look into. It is important to tell our people, just like the President has always told us, that this is a working nation. I am afraid there is a lot of idleness in this country. We must now tell our people that they must work and earn, at least, Kshs100 per day. That is a challenge that we have as leaders. We must tell our people not to waste time. We must look into ways and means of, at least, earning Kshs100 per day. That way, our families and the greater public can feel the economy growing. Mr. Speaker, Sir, there are a number of things that we can, perhaps, do. We have land. At least, many people can get an inch of land to cultivate. But we must be able to collect and reserve water that is always wasted. It is important, as we undertake all those endeavours, to encourage our people to collect that water in their small farms. I think those are some of the basic things that we can do, other than the macro-economic theories that we talk about. I think we must go down to the lower levels and look for what can really benefit our people. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it was very gratifying when the Minister waived taxation on pensioners. But, sometimes, I wonder how much those pensioners receive. Although I commend the Minister for doing that, I think there is need to enhance their monthly pensions. We would have liked the Minister to enhance the income of the pensioners. That is because, being senior citizens in this country, they deserve the best in their old age. June 20, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1939 I was not particularly happy when the Minister proposed the enhancement of the capital base for the banking sector. For the Minister to increase the capital base for the banking sector from Kshs250 million to Kshs1 billion in the next three years, it is like throwing that sector to foreigners. I think the Minister should look into that because, if the banks were told to achieve the Kshs1 billion mark, I wonder: how many of them would do that. We want to encourage the indiginisation of that sector. Perhaps, we should have moved it from Kshs250 million to Kshs500 million. It could have been a bit better. With regard to the insurance industry, the Minister is proposing that they should enhance their capital base. We may be throwing those sectors to the foreigners. If we care for our people, that bit should be looked into a little bit more seriously. I believe the Minister was able to allocate Kshs300 million to roads in the national parks. But, sometimes, I wonder whether national parks--- If we were only to care for roads in the national--- I think we should also care for roads that lead to national parks. I want the Ministry to cater not only for roads in the national parks, but even the roads that lead to those parks. That way, tourists and visitors will be able to get into the national roads from our spine roads. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Budget looked fairly balanced. I think the Minister was able to balance his Budget very well. Whatever money has been voted for various Ministries must be used properly. Although we have enacted new procurement procedures, a lot of Government money being misused by the very officers that are supposed to look after it. I think it is incumbent upon those in the various Ministries to ensure that monies voted to various Ministries is used properly. If the contractors and suppliers to Government adhere to tendering procedures, we can use the money that the Minister is voting to various Ministries wisely. I think it is gratifying to note that the Government is giving some money to cater for tuition in our secondary schools---"
}