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{
    "id": 245319,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/245319/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 234,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. K. Kilonzo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 172,
        "legal_name": "Julius Kiema Kilonzo",
        "slug": "kiema-kilonzo"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to congratulate the Minister and his team for a well-thought-out Budget. On the Youth Enterprise Fund, I wish to say that for the first time in Kenyan history, the youth have been considered in a Budget and they have been allocated a considerable amount that will help them to participate in the development of this country. Now that we have these youth funds, we want to call upon the Minister to ensure that the youth who will benefit are not only the youth from urban areas but also those in rural areas. The funds should be distributed equitably, so that all the constituencies benefit. I now wish to turn to the insurance industry. One week before the Minister read his Budget June 29, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1759 Speech here, he said that the insurance industry would be autonomous. We felt that for the first time the insurance industry would grow since it was going to be made autonomous. However, during the Budget speech, we heard the Minister introduce what is known as the \"cash and carry policy\". This is where insurance brokers are required to remit insurance premiums to underwriters the same day they receive it from clients. Those who have been in the insurance industry like myself know that this is a move that will \"kill\" insurance brokers. Most of the brokers come from insurance colleges or other sectors to join the industry and start selling policies. If they are asked to remit insurance premiums the same day they received them, then definitely they will not be able to do that. Therefore, the insurance industry is going to be a preserve of the rich people, who will be able to remit premiums within a day. I wish to call upon the Minister to consider allowing insurance brokers at least a month grace period before they remit premiums. This is because most of them benefit from the grace period allowed before they remit premiums. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the insurance industry has for a long time been the preserve of foreigners. You find that most of them register in the service industry. I wish to also request the Minister to, in future, restrict the service industry to the locals. This will enable the unemployed to participate in it. The allocation for water is Kshs2.5 billion. I come from an area which is hit by drought year in, year out. I wish to ask the Minister to increase Vote for the Ministry of water and Irrigation, especially the portion meant for Ukambani. You find that the major rivers of this country like the Athi and Tana River pass through Ukambani. We should tap river water to irrigate this area. If this is done, Ukambani will be a food basket of this country. The Minister allocated Kshs26 billion to the Department of Defence. This Department needs to be given sufficient funds. However, our military should be involved in development activities in this country. Our military officers should help us in sinking more boreholes in areas hit by drought and also in construction of roads. If they do that, we will not use a lot of money to pay contractors. Our military have the capacity to do these works. The other issue I want to comment on is the increase in the fuel levy. The Minister removed road licences and increased the fuel price by Kshs3.20 per litre. This increase has a spiral effect on prices of other commodities across the country. What the Minister did is to give us relief on one hand and then burden us on the other one. Today, a poor Kenyan who does not own a car or simply cannot afford any means of transport is going to be taxed heavily because of the Kshs3.20 increase on the Roads Maintenance Fuel Levy. I would like the Minister, as we continue to deliberate on this matter, to rescind this decision so as to enable the poor people get relief. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to thank the Minister for having given us a token increment on both the CDF and Local Authorities Transfer Fund (LATF). The CDF has, indeed, revolutionarised development in this country. It has enabled projects which have been desired by"
}