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{
    "id": 222127,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/222127/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 340,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Muturi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 215,
        "legal_name": "Justin Bedan Njoka Muturi",
        "slug": "justin-muturi"
    },
    "content": "Therefore, I find it obnoxious and pedestrian for anybody to suggest that this House should not be involved in the process that will ensure equitable distribution of national resources. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill is so well framed. In Clause 4, the Minister and the Government is being told that they will state their objectives which will have to be within stated parameters. All these are clearly laid out. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Clause 5 says: \"The Government may deviate from the principles of prudent fiscal management, if: (1) The deviation from those principles is temporary; (2) The Minister states the reasons for departure, plan of action and duration within which the Government will revert to those principles and that such reasons shall be tabled in the House before such fiscal management policies are implemented\". Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, what can be more rational than this kind of provision? This does not require a lot of experience. We have been told that somebody has a lot of experience. 1336 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES May 15, 2007 I do not know whether this is in budgeting or other exercises like juggling of liver and other such things. We are saying that today's Parliament should be involved in ensuring that the taxation policies that the Government comes up with are prudent. They should not be oppressive. Indeed, even what happens here traditionally that the Minister comes here with the Finance Bill which contains taxation proposals. What we are saying is that by enacting this Bill, this House or its committees must be involved in the formulation and originating of those proposals. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is nothing new, but we want this House to be involved because we have seen the dangers emanating from the way the Budget has been formulated and treated in this House. We are told that we can only reduce the allocation of a Ministry or Department by a pound. Even for very offending Ministries and Departments, in respect of which the whole House has agreed that there has been under-performance, there is nothing we can do about them other than reduce their budgets by a pound. Therefore, I, humbly, support this Bill because of the introduction of the idea of impounding, so that those who are given responsibility in Government will be people who are agile in both body and mind."
}