HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 245258,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/245258/?format=api",
"text_counter": 173,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Mwiraria",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 283,
"legal_name": "David Mwiraria",
"slug": "david-mwiraria"
},
"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the one thing that we do not do as Kenyans is to appreciate good work. The NARC Government may have its failings, but it also has its successes. I think, as Kenyans, whether in the Opposition or in Government, we should appreciate good work when it is done. I do not have to preach to the converted, but is free primary education not a reality? Are our hospitals not much better and getting more drugs today than they were four years ago? Have we not introduced the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which has removed the Government from a position where it can tell the Opposition that what you want will be done when funds become available? I heard that song for ten years, and I must be honest; I really got sick of it. So, I really think today that we are very fortunate in having a fund that is available to all corners of Kenya, and every Member can show his development work. Look at the construction industry, industrial development and tourism; they are all booming. If you look at agriculture, even though we are saying we are not reducing poverty, a maize farmer who used to earn Kshs500 per 90kg bag is now getting Kshs1,400. What other way do you want to reduce poverty? A farmer who could not sell his milk can now take it to KCC and get between Kshs18 and Kshs20 per litre. These are activities of this present Government. When I was in the Cabinet, we made several efforts to make cheap fertiliser available to our farmers so that they could make this country self-sufficient in food production. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to congratulate the Minister for Finance, like many other hon. Members have done, for introducing the Youth Enterprises Fund (YEF) to help the youth go into business and other enterprises. There are many things that our youth can do and which do not require major investments. As the Member representing my constituency, I am looking around to see what the youth in my constituency can do. I hope that we will benefit from this Fund. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the previous speaker spoke about the independence of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). I would like to support his sentiments fully. I believe that if we really want the CBK to benefit this nation, we should make the Governor of the CBK independent and give him the responsibility of chairing the Board. Most countries, including the ones which tried both systems, like the USA, have ended up having a governor who is in charge of all the groups. A good example is Mr. Allan Greenspan of the USA Federal Bank. He retired at the age of 80 years after steering the economy and finances of the USA for many years. He was successful. Since the Government has the right and ability to appoint and fire the CBK Governor, I would favour a system which makes it possible to appoint an independent governor who will make sure that whatever changes he wants to make in the monetary policy, interest rates, savings and even in foreign exchange are properly controlled in the interest of the country. I really doubt whether we have matured enough to have a governor under a board. In the previous years, we have already appointed a committee on monetary policy to advise the CBK. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I fully support the budgetary provisions as presented by the Minister. Thank you."
}