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"speaker_name": "Dr. Kuti",
"speaker_title": "The Minister of State for Youth Affairs",
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"id": 60,
"legal_name": "Mohammed Abdi Kuti",
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"content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to start by joining my colleagues who have spoken earlier to congratulate the Minister for Finance for a Budget that has brought hope to all Kenyans. I call it a \"feel-good-Budget\" because most groups of people in Kenya have been addressed positively in one way or the other. I would also like to congratulate the Minister for furthering our Independence, just like last year, by not factoring in budgetary support from the donors. That is the way forward. Independence begins by being self-reliant. I am very pleased that we are heading towards total self-reliance. I hope that next year, we will further reduce donor involvement in our Budget on development projects. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there was an outcry over the issue of removing road licences. That was a positive move, but the increase in fuel prices has raised an outcry. But Kenyans need to look at that wholly. What most of us have failed to note is that time is a resource, just like money. We spend a lot of time being stopped by policemen over road licences. We also spend a lot of time lining at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) offices renewing our licences. That is a waste of time and money. If it is converted into Kenya Shillings, it may be much more than the Kshs3.20 that has been added. Therefore, the end result of that measure would result into a saving. We should look at it that way. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, an hon. Member who spoke earlier lamented that roads are not being done. When the NARC Government came to power, it started on a very good note. It has tried to improve the lives of Kenyans. But a section of the Government deviated from that and engaged in endless politics. They kept on asking: \"What is in this Government for us\", rather than, \"what can we do for Kenyans in general.\" Those portfolios occupied by such Government officials suffered a setback, including roads. A lot of talking took place rather than the actual repair and construction of roads. Funds earmarked to construct roads were returned to Treasury at the end of the financial year because there was more politicking than actual work. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am sure Kenyans have noted that, with the current Government of National Unity, there is silence and sanity. The Government is focused on the problems facing Kenyans. It is addressing them. It is not dealing with internal wrangles that characterised the NARC Government in the earlier days. There is a general good feeling across the country. There is general hope. We are replacing hopelessness with hopefulness. There are development projects in various parts of the country. I would like to say the following in relation to pastoralism. I am a pastoralist, leading a 1710 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 28, 2006 pastoral community. The recent re-opening of Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) is a big boost to pastoralist communities and Kenyans in general. For a long time, pastoralists have really suffered, especially primary producers. A family struggles to bring up a heifer for five years. In those five years, they experience very harsh weather conditions. There is insecurity and drought. After five years, due to problems like lack of schools fees, sickness or needs at home, the primary producer takes that five-year old heifer to the market. The broker in the market offers a very low price. The primary producer is punished for the work he did for five years, instead of being rewarded. The broker then takes the animal to Nairobi and makes twice the price he gave the primary producer. That happens, and yet he has been with the animal for only 24 hours. The butchers in Nairobi make three times more the price offered to the primary producer. The primary producer is given Kshs7,000, and yet when the same heifer is brought to Nairobi, it is sold at between Kshs40,000 to Kshs45,000. You can see how the primary producer suffers in the absence of KMC. With the re-opening of KMC, I am sure the prices of animals will go up. The primary producer will be able to enjoy his sweat more. On behalf of the pastoralists, I would like to thank the Government for re-opening the KMC. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the pastoralists will not forget the last drought. They lost over 60 per cent of their livestock. I would like to mention that the pastoralists really appreciated the way the Government took its responsibility during that hard time. Food was availed to people in various corners of the country. But we could not have avoided a few deaths because of the severity of the drought. However, had the Government not taken serious measures, many people would have died. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for the first time, the pastoralists saw hay being provided alongside food for the people. There was food for the people and livestock. When the drought started, the Government started an off-take programme of Kshs200 million. Isiolo District, where I come from, got Kshs40 million for buying weak animals. The farmers were provided with cash to buy food and pay school fees. That has really been appreciated. The re-stocking programme, which is about to take place, will really go a long way in replenishing the animals that were lost during the drought. The people are eagerly waiting for that programme to start. The only problem is the money that has been set aside. The Kshs200 million assigned for that project is too little to cover the loss. However, it is an attempt that we appreciate. We are asking the Government to raise that amount to Kshs500 million or Kshs1 billion. That will enable the pastoralists to participate fully when the KMC starts operating. Right now, the livestock out there are too few to sustain KMC. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I cannot forget the boreholes and dams that are being sunk in various areas that are occupied by pastoralist communities. We really appreciate that. For the first time, we are seeing about ten to 15 boreholes being dug in every constituency. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, security is very important for any development to take place. Most pastoral communities have experienced politically-instigated insecurity. I thank the Government for maintaining security. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}