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"id": 217945,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Ahenda",
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"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, that is what I was coming to because I had talked to my grandmother and so I ought to have had an input in the Budget. The young boy who was in the 1890 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 19, 2007 House could have actually used her input in his Budget proposals to the Minister. However, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, a Budget Statement is a policy statement and it needs to be looked at, contrary to those Budget days--- If you remember, the good old days when the Budget Speech was being presented, it was a big day. It shook the entire East Africa, that is, the Budget Speech day, contrary to what we are seeing today. There is something actually lacking in the presentation of our Budget today because the Budget Speech that we get today is actually not the people's Budget. We need a Budget that addresses the problems facing our people and a Budget that before even its presentation, Kenyans yearn for, look forward to it or anticipate that it is actually going to be for the benefit of the masses. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, implementation of the Budget is the most wanting thing in Kenya today. In the past, we have had beautiful Budgets being presented, but their implementation is wanting. I must thank the current Government, no doubt, for what they have put in the collection of the revenue. But, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Front Bench has always taken an attitude that whatever is being said here as good and constructive criticism--- It is as if we are only here to oppose. We can also propose. If there is something good, let us all stand up and support it. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me talk about the economic growth of 6.1 per cent that was given. I would like to see the Budget presentation directed to strengthen the Kenyan shilling. If we cannot strengthen the Kenya Shilling and it is left to get weaker, then the Budget will not help Kenyans. It will make inflation grow. I have in mind the good old days when the US dollar or the Sterling Pound was almost at par with the Kenya shilling. In fact, at that time, the Kenya shilling was stronger than the British Pound. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is a myth these days being created that if we strengthen our currency, our exports will be more expensive. That is a myth that cannot be taken seriously. If we want to push down our inflation, that is something that should be looked into. Our currency should be strengthened for the benefit of this country. On any Budget day if you do not take into account all the economic indicators, like the growth rate, health, education and industries then the Budget is going to be another sham. Just the other day when one of our luminaries was launching his vision and presentation of economic growth, if at all he takes power, he said that for any country to grow, the three most important things he would do are infrastructure, infrastructure and infrastructure and yet in this year's Budget, allocation for infrastructure is lopsided. One of the speakers has just mentioned - I am sorry to repeat it, but for the benefit of this House - that if you make only the roads leading to your house, you will need to reach my house to get what I have for your own people. That road must also reach my house! If Kenyans want to get fish from Lake Victoria, the road between Nakuru and Kisumu must be in good shape as opposed to what it is now. If Kenyans want to get things from Mombasa to Nairobi or from Nairobi to Mt. Kenya, all the roads must be good rather than just confining it to your corner and you think infrastructure is complete. That should have been considered. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Government spending must be scrutinised. When we scrutinise this Government's spending, it does not mean that we are just criticising the Government. If we do not do this, then we are opening a pandora's box for another Goldenberg and Margaryans to just come and syphon our money out. Therefore, Government spending must be questioned. Questioning Government spending does not mean that we are criticising the Government unnecessarily. So, when we question that spending, my colleagues on the Front Bench should not raise eyebrows. They should bear with us that it is normal to question the spending. A Government should be looked at as one big corporate company with the President as the Managing Director and the Ministers as line managers, while my friend, Mr. Wetangula and company, would be our messengers in that company. If it was like that, then the idea of having June 19, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1891 every Government Ministry and Minister signing what they can produce at any one given year would be achieved. If we look at the Government as a corporate company, then the growth rate would be uniform. Every line manager should sign a performance contract. But if you leave it the way it is today, the performance contracts that we are signing will be another sham and cannot be proved. The arbitrary powers that have been given to the commissioner need to be checked. Otherwise, people will just be throwing their things overboard. You must have heard a saying: \"Hunger amidst plenty!\" We could have a lot in Kenya, but some people could be going hungry because of unequitable distribution. Could this Budget target those ones, so that there is equitable distribution of wealth across the board. I know that we have plenty in this country, compared to our neighbours. But equitable distribution of resources is the main problem. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I was rather disappointed with the distribution of the Youth Development Fund vis-a-vis the Women Enterprise Development Fund. The Youth Development Fund was given Kshs1 billion this year. The year is about to end and only Kshs210 million has been distributed. Where is the Kshs790 million? This Budget added the Youth Fund Kshs2 billion. Is somebody somewhere siphoning that money? I think the women were short-changed in this Budget. They ought to have been given Kshs2 billion. A sum of Kshs1 billion plus the Kshs790 million that is lying somewhere could be given to the youth. I do not know where it is lying. But that money should be taken out and given to the youth. I intend to move an amendment to ensure that, that money is equitably distributed among the youth and women. Finally, the military spending these days---"
}