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{
    "id": 246541,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/246541/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 176,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Lesrima",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 178,
        "legal_name": "Simon Saimanga Lesirma",
        "slug": "simon-lesirma"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in many districts, for instance, Samburu District, the only financial institution in place is the Kenya Commercial Bank, which serves the whole of 21,000 kilometres of Maralal. We do not have any other financial institution there. That is why we look forward to the Micro Finance Bill being passed so that we can get financial services. I would also like to mention the issue of the Constituency Roads Fund. We welcome the increase of Kshs11 million. However, as you know, we do not control that money. It is controlled by the District Roads Engineers. It is about time that the money was combined with the CDF so that local communities can have a say on what roads should be constructed. The fuel levy is a programme that the Minister introduced so as to get money to repair roads; that is very naive! However, Kshs3.20 increase per litre is rather heavy for Kenyans; a modest increase would have been fair. We were told that in lieu of that, charges for road licences would disappear. We have been paying Kshs3,000 per annum, for an average vehicle. However, the increase in fuel levy, if it were to be applied on road licence, would have been increased up to Kshs18,000 or more. That is an unfair deal for Kenyans. If the Minister had to increase the fuel levy, he should have done so modestly. It is very sad that the cost of constructing roads is determined by external forces. It was sad to hear the Minister say that the cost of tarmacking one kilometre of road is Kshs60 million. There is a time when I raised a Question regarding the construction of the road that leads to my constituency, Rumuruti to Maralal which is 110 kilometres. I was told that it would cost Kshs2.1 billion. If you work out the arithmetic, it translates to Kshs20 million per kilometre. The road construction would be financed by ADB. We really need to look into that issue. Finally, I think we should allow the Central Bank Governor to be independent. Asking the President to appoint a chairman is taking away the independence of the Governor. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}