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"id": 245426,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/245426/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Mwenje",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Co-operative Development and Marketing",
"speaker": {
"id": 257,
"legal_name": "David S. Kamau Mwenje",
"slug": "david-mwenje"
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"content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I said that the actual implementation of the Budget is what we would want to see being done properly and effected in the right way and time. One thing we have not been checking, as a House, which is a regulation and should be done are the quarterly reports which are supposed to be done by the Ministries which are allocated money. It is important that the Public June 28, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1641 Accounts Committee insists that the Ministries produce the quarterly reports which are supposed to be brought to this House so that we scrutinise whether the money was properly spent for the purpose it was allocated. In the absence of that, it is very difficult to monitor whether it was actually spent well. One of the areas where there was an increment was fuel. I am not objecting to the Kshs3.20 increase. However, I do not agree with the fact that if you drive from here to Thika, you will see one petrol station charging Kshs76 per litre, another one may be charging Kshs77, yet another one may even be charging up to Kshs80 per litre. There is no logic as to how one trader can make profit while selling a litre at Kshs76 and another one is allowed to sell at Kshs81. I agree with hon. Members who have said that we must return the price control on fuel. The business of liberalisation is not benefiting our people, particularly in the aspect of petroleum. We must, therefore, make a decision on what we want to do. Do we want to allow our people to be oppressed by traders who want to sell fuel at exorbitant prices or do we want our people to benefit from liberalisation in a manner that makes them suffer? We must make a decision, as a House, and I believe it is time to bring some kind of price control, even if not fully. We must control the price of fuel. As long as we continue to neglect the issue, our people will continue to suffer and being misused by those who are trading in the industry and multinational companies which supply us with fuel. I remember that at one time, a former Minister for Energy used to call all stakeholders in the petroleum industry for consultations. However, that is no longer happening. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy should call all petroleum suppliers and discuss the prices with the Kenya Pipeline Company so as to know who is causing the temporary increments. A litre of petrol today should not cost more than Kshs74, yet every trader is charging between Kshs76.00 and Kshs81. That is not fair and we must step in and stop it. We have seen a lot of progress with the CDF projects. Members of the Press have also realised the usefulness of the CDF. The pressmen who were not interested in knowing what was being done with the CDF have now known what is going on. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am now pleased that we can carry out many projects using the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF). Some constituencies like mine, which has the highest population in this country - 1 million people - only receive Kshs42 million. There are smaller constituencies which receive Kshs60 million! What criteria is used? If it is the poverty index, who are poorer than the people of Embakasi? I do not understand that. I do not believe that, that system is proper. We have to look at it again and amend it. Alternatively, the figures that are given by the Ministry of Planning and National Development are not correct. Until we amend that, we will continue suffering. The highest tax comes from Embakasi because that is where most people live. They should also benefit more. That is the kind of system that should be used. So, I do not agree with the system that is being used today to determine allocations to CDF. I hope the Minister, or whoever is supposed to do that, including our Parliamentary Committee led by Eng. Muriuki, would look at that once again because it is not proper. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I agree with the Minister that we do not require road licences any more. But we must also look at other taxes levied on motor vehicles. The police no longer bother with road licences. They look for other funny things so that they can be bribed by motorists. Let the Minister put all other motor vehicle requirements in the Road Maintenance Fuel Levy. Our people are very hard-working and I believe things are changing. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, those who have eyes but do not want to see--- Everybody can see how the economy of this country is improving. With the revival of Kenya Co-operative Creameries (KCC) and Kenya Meat Commission (KMC), farmers will help themselves. The Government has taken a great step forward. Now that the Government has considered farmers, it should shift its attention to city dwellers. We need to improve the living standards of our people. In the country- 1642 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 28, 2006 side, when they keep cattle, as Mr. Munyao will tell you, they make some money. The Government should shift its attention to town dwellers and see how it can improve their lives by using the Budget. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to mention something about the Co-operative Movement, where I now belong. Many co-operative movements are now working well. But we still have quite a number of co-operative movements and Saving and Credit Societies (SACCOs) where the leadership has failed. A number of those who are heading co-operative movements have not changed their systems. Even after elections were called, some leaders are not giving the services to the people. I want to give a warning to all those who are not improving their co-operative movements and, in particular, Kirinyaga District that, their time is over! We are going to restructure the societies and hold new elections in areas where SACCOs have not been giving proper services. I want to appeal to those in coffee co-operatives to start working now that the coffee market has started improving. We are going to move into direct sales. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}