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{
    "id": 246533,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/246533/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 168,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ms. Karua",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 166,
        "legal_name": "Martha Wangari Karua",
        "slug": "martha-karua"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Government has pledged to accelerate development in all areas and has tried affirmative action measures. Even the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) money is distributed on the basis of the poverty index. Areas that are less developed get more money than the rest. This is the first time in the history of our country where there is a measure, even though it may be inadequate, of affirmative action. I have heard people who have been in Government previously not appreciating the fact that for the first time in our history, there is affirmative action to accelerate development in all areas. For the first time, there is money going to every constituency through the CDF. The ball is in the court of parliamentarians and their CDF committees back in their constituencies to effectively use this money and make sure that there is development over and above what the Ministries of the Government will do. Let us not pass the buck even where the buck is stopping with us. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the Sugar Levy Fund, it is quite clear; we debated the Sugar Act in this House. This levy was supposed to come from the farmers of sugar themselves, because it is a levy meant for the development of the sugar industry. How else can you expect that it is the consumers of sugar who will develop the industry? It is the same theory with the Coffee Fund. Coffee farmers have to be taxed a contribution towards the Coffee Fund to develop their industry. It is the same with tea, where farmers pay a levy which then goes to the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) and the Kenya Tea Board. Let us not have double standards. Let us not forget our own records of the HANSARD. The Sugar Levy Fund was never intended for the consumer. It was meant for the sugar farmer. It is a negligible levy that would not adversely affect the farmer while providing necessary funds to develop the industry. The only thing I would advocate for is that, those who import sugar should be taxed heavily and that money should also go to the Sugar Levy Fund to augment the funding of sugar farmers. Let us make suggestions that will be helpful not only to our farmers but also to our economy. Those who are not in Government at the moment should remember that tomorrow they will be in Government. When they are in Government, they will need funds to run this country. Countries cannot be run on political statements. You have to raise revenue. Therefore, let us make responsible suggestions which can help us to move forward. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I appreciate the creation of the Youth Fund and the support being given to our youth polytechnics. We need them. After secondary education, not everybody is able to continue to university. Not everybody goes to secondary school. They need skills to be able to cope up in life. This Fund should be utilised to the optimum to ensure that we give the youth an opportunity. The 500,000 jobs pledged by the NARC Government are to come from both the public and the private sectors. When the agricultural sector is improved, there are jobs created in the farming June 20, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1451 industry as well as in the food processing plants. All those are jobs created. It is not realistic to expect that it is the public workforce that was meant to bring up 500,000 jobs annually. We are doing the best we can to meet that goal. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, turning to taxation measures, the Minister's decision to tax our house and entertainment allowances is noble. Those are the only two allowances targeted, apart from the tax that we are already paying. Let us not choose to be different from other Kenyans. Even though some of us are saying that their money is already taxed by the constituents, this is a central fund coming to the Exchequer, which will find its way to your constituencies through the CDF and other services. Those who are doubting that the Government will circulate this money, should note that it is the taxpayers' money that is circulated until it reaches their pockets as Members of Parliament. We are paid by the taxpayers. It is taxpayers' money that is circulated until it reaches our constituencies through the CDF. Let us not have double speak where it relates to us as parliamentarians. Let us submit ourselves to taxation. Let us also contribute to the building of the nation. I hope that we will all support the speedy enactment of legislation that will help us to make a modest contribution to the funds we badly require to develop this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to laud the affirmative action on budgetary allocation for water for ASAL areas. In many areas, it has already made a difference. If we go on allocating the Kshs1.5 billion for the next three or four years, the effect will be phenomenal. That is the way forward. With those many remarks, I beg to support."
}