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"id": 252448,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/252448/?format=api",
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Raila",
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"speaker": {
"id": 195,
"legal_name": "Raila Amolo Odinga",
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"content": "I have looked at the other Ministries' Votes and found out that the trend is consistent. There is increment in the Recurrent Expenditure and reduction in Development Expenditure. For example, I have looked at the Vote for the Ministry of Roads and Public Works and seen that a number of road projects which were approved have either been cancelled or funding has been substantially reduced. I want to give one example so as to explain what I am talking about. On page 381, Head 385, Sub-Head 420, Isiolo District, Construction of Roads, in the Printed Estimates, there was Kshs102 million provided for the Isiolo-Marsabit Road. In the Revised Estimates, that has been slashed off completely and we have a decrease of Kshs102 million. When we move on to page 385 Sub-Head 490, Maua Central District, Construction of Roads, there is an Item of Kshs240 million. Funding is required to cater for advance payment and certified works on Ruiri-Isiolo Road, which was erroneously left out in the 2005/2006 Printed Estimates. We are slashing off funds for Isiolo-Marsabit Road which has been a subject of discussion here. Very recently, when we went to burry our dead in Marsabit, we spoke very eloquently about developing the road. We are cancelling the provisions for that particular road and creating expenditure for another road of Kshs240 million which was not in the Printed Estimates. Why is it not possible to use this money to begin the construction of the Isiolo-Marsabit Road if at all this Government is serious with the promises the President made in Marsabit when we went to bury our colleagues who died recently? There there exists in this country the office of the Government Spokesman. If you look at page 6 of the Revised Estimates, under Head 712, Sub-Head 000, there is a title: Government Spokesman (Public Communications Office). This is, perhaps, an office with two or three officers. You will realise that under the Item: Communications, Supplies and Services, there is an increase from Kshs1,850,000 to Kshs5,342,072. With regard to Domestic Travel and Subsistence and other Transportation Costs the money has been raised from Kshs2,200,000 to Kshs6,200,000. The money allocated for Printing, Advertising and Information Supplies and Services has been increased from Kshs5,500,000 to Kshs26 million. Further on, the amount allocated for Hospitality Supplies and Services has been increased from Kshs2,020,000 to Kshs4,020,000. With regard to Other Operating Expenses, which Prof. Anyang'-Nyong'o was talking about, the Government will spend Kshs8 million. The amount of money for Routine Maintenance- Other Assets has been increased from Kshs1,100,00 to Kshs2,774,968 while Purchase of Office Furniture and General Equipment will cost the Government Kshs4,500,000. Research, Feasibility Studies, Project Preparation and Design, Project Supervision will cost Kshs2 million. The office of the Government Spokesman alone has been allocated Kshs45 million. The April 25, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 645 question is: Should this Government be spending money on a Mr. Mutua who is known to run around with a motorcade of so many vehicles and shouting his voice hoarse without being coherent in whatever he says, or should this money be put to better use? Another question that this Government needs to ask is: What are these other expenses which amount to Kshs8 billion being given to this particular office? Like the hon. Member who spoke before me, I want to say that we cannot come to any other conclusion other than that these \"Other expenses\" is a new trick that the Government has invented to try to cover up for the money that they illegally withdrew from the Treasury and used during the referendum campaigns. It is very sad that at a time when many people are dying, the Government can only scheme for ways of trying to recover the money that was illegally removed from the Treasury. The media has been saying that hon. Members of Parliament are not considerate and that they have refused to approve the money that is meant to purchase food for those people who are starving. I have looked at that particular Item concerned with relief food and found out that there is only Kshs600 million which has been allocated for the purpose of emergency supplies for the people who are starving. So, one of the prime purpose of these Supplementary Estimates is to cover up for illegal expenditure and, secondly, to provide money for the bloated Executive which has been created through Executive fear simply because of blunders which have been occasioned by the President. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, neither did anybody ask the President nor did he consult anybody when he was creating a Cabinet of 34 Ministers. The President promised the people of Kenyan that he was going to run a lean Cabinet. He increased the Cabinet from 29 Ministers to 34 Ministers for no other reason other than for political expediency and survival. He then appointed two Assistant Ministers in almost each and every Ministry in order to create the strength that is required in this House. This is the reason why the Development Vote is suffering. The Government has to provide money to pay additional salaries to Ministers who are running departments. Government departments have been elevated to the Cabinet level so that Ministers can fly flags and be here like voting machines. This Parliament must rise to the occasion and tell the President that they are not going to dance to his tune and approve illegalities which he has created himself in order to survive politically. I would like to urge my colleagues in this House that a time has come for Members of Parliament to stand up and be counted. Kenyans are looking at Members of this House. This House should be responsible and reject the Supplementary Estimates because they are not in the interest of the common man. This is not meant to reduce poverty, rather it is meant to deal only with political expediencies. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in being mindful of other colleagues who want to contribute, I beg to oppose."
}