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"id": 217883,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Bahari",
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"legal_name": "Abdul Bahari Ali Jillo",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I want to take this opportunity to make my contribution on the Budget Speech. I want to appreciate the fact that we have seen reports showing growth of the economy, and particularly in the key sectors like agriculture and tourism. However, I must hasten to add that some of the growth that is mentioned is quite substantial, including the manufacturing sector. By any standards, this growth which is reported ought to be reflected and visibly seen on the ground. Unfortunately, the same is not true! Kenyans, everywhere you go and ask them, they will not be telling you of any growth. By any standards, 6.1 per cent growth in an economy is quite substantial. Even where there has been growth to the level of 7 per cent, you will visibly see the difference between when that growth was low and at the time you are being told it is 7 per cent. Recently, I was in Bombay, India. When I was reading about 7 per growth of the economy in India - I was last in Bombay in 1996 - and I saw the real difference. Even in terms of infrastructure and how that place has been turned round. I saw the same thing in New Delhi. So, nobody should come and convince us that a growth of 6 per cent in an economy will not be felt, unless the figures are manipulated. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to go to the issue of inflation. I am not surprised that we are not feeling the growth of the economy as reported. We are being told of over 14 per cent inflation. These are Government figures! We know how conservative Government statistics is. In fact, in the private sector, they are normally not the most reliable statistics. You can, perhaps, factor in something else to plan better. So, it is a serious matter for an economist, a Finance Minister, not to mention how to control inflation. That is one of the very critical issues you have to address in any economy; how to balance inflation and growth. What they would normally refer to as the nice- age problems; where you have to balance that growth and inflation. I think the Minister needs to re- visit that issue to address that matter. Previously, the price of a kilogramme of sugar was only Kshs40. Now, it is going for over Kshs100 in most areas. That is an increase of many folds. In fact, it is an increase of nearly three- folds. It is, therefore, important that these issues, which affect the common person, must be 1874 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 19, 2007 addressed. Figures alone will not help us go anywhere! Figures can always be \"cooked\". Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, a lot of resources have been set aside for development projects. We have been told how the Treasury is expected to supervise that. The Treasury cannot do that! They have not done it before and they will not do it this time round. All those resources are going to waste or they will be unutilized. This is for a fact! The Treasury issues circulars which they forget about. For example, there is a quarterly report that all State corporations are required to submit to the Treasury. However, nobody looks at that report as an instrument of control and monitoring. So, we will remain assured that those resources will either go back to the Treasury or they will just be misused. It is, therefore, important that along with that, the capacity of the Treasury must radically change first before we even think of proper supervision from the Treasury to implement the new development projects as reflected in the Budget. I come from a pastoralist area and I am very disappointed!"
}