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{
    "id": 252511,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/252511/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 304,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Michuki",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister of State for Administration and National Security",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 183,
        "legal_name": "John Njoroge Michuki",
        "slug": "john-michuki"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, let me take this opportunity to, first of all, correct an impression which has been made on the Floor of this House on the so-called \"large variations of the Estimates\". Last year, when the Government assessed the extent of drought and famine, a decision was made that everything must be done to make sure that we save lives and contain the calamity, which was natural. The drought, famine and all those deficiencies were estimated to cost Kshs19 billion. This money had to come from the revenues that provide the voted provisions. To that extent, there had to be drastic reductions, which had been provided, to meet expenditure under normal circumstances because the situation had drastically changed. Making reference to \"large variations\" without understanding this background is misleading. I thought the issue would have been to seek clarification rather than conclude on those re-allocations. The statement ignored the reality that we have been dealing with since the drought and famine struck. Therefore, although these Supplementary Estimates call for additional funds, to the extent that they are mostly dealing with re-allocation, it must be said that these re-allocations are caused by the drought, lack of water in ASAL areas, the famine that we are facing right now, and where we have to provide additional food to our people, particularly in ASAL areas and also the timing of the referendum. Revised Estimates of this kind deal with situations that could never have been foreseen when the original Estimates were cast. Therefore, this is what the Revised Estimates are dealing with; deliberate re-allocation and adjustments of provision to Votes by the Government to raise money to meet those emergencies. Mr. Speaker, Sir, a lot has been said about the economy not growing. These are fallacies April 25, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 655 that are coming from people who would rather say that the grapes are sour. Those who have commented on this aspect have been hon. Members of this Government only a few months ago. Since they are not on the Government side, what the Government does must turn out to be unacceptable to them. First of all, as hon. Dr. Kituyi has said, our economy is yielding three-and-a-half times the revenue the former Government was collecting. In fact, this is without a lot of sweat. Obviously, systems have been adjusted. The Kenya Revenue Authority should be congratulated by this House for facilitating so many projects to be implemented---"
}