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{
    "id": 344506,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/344506/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 36,
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    "content": "registration. We have also given Kshs7.2 billion for internal security operations and continued external intervention in Somalia. Our soldiers are still in Somalia and I can tell you it is very, very expensive to maintain a combat soldier in a war zone. They have to be fed, their vehicles have to be fueled and they have to gather intelligence where they are. So, we have provided Kshs7.2 billion. As I have explained, I have also provided Kshs2 billion to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for its operations. If KRA is to recoup the shortfall on revenue, then they must be able to seal all the tax leakages. As I said, we estimate that we are losing about Kshs30 billion to Kshs40 billion on fakes and counterfeits, particularly on alcohol, wines and spirits. The revenue stamp that is affixed to a bottle, you as a consumer have no way of knowing whether it is genuine or not. We want KRA to come up with a system which will be online, which will be installed in the manufacturing plants such that each and every time a beer bottle, wine bottle or whisky bottle passes through the bottling line, it automatically levies the revenue charged on the bottle. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the KRA people will have readers. By visiting the bars with the reader, just by flashing it against the bottle, it will transmit that information to the head office in Nairobi. They can, therefore, tell whether that revenue stamp which is fixed on the bottle is genuine or fake. We suspect there are quite a number of fake revenue stamps affixed on beer, spirit and wine bottles. So, the Kshs2 billion for the KRA will do that. We have Kshs1.4 billion for constitutional reforms and transition expenses in readiness for devolution after the forthcoming general elections. This is the amount that has been requested by the Transition Authority to enable them employ temporary staff for the counties. Again, we realized that the Constitution says that the governor will be sworn in by the secretary. But by 5th March, there will be no secretary in the county to swear the Governor. This would have caused a constitutional crisis. So, the Transition Authority is going to employ temporary secretaries of counties to be able to swear in the governors. The governors in turn will swear in the county representatives. That is a serious omission that we discovered. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have also provided Kshs1.4 billion for health services and emergency interventions including victims of terror attacks, violence and hospital requirements. All the victims of those attacks are taken to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). This was not budgeted for and so, we have given some money for that. We have another Kshs5 billion for the Civil Contingency Fund which is required for unforeseen expenditures during the reminder of the financial year, including expenses for a run-off in the presidential election. My request to Kenyans is: Please, make your decision. Give one of the coalitions votes in good and sufficient number to avoid a run- off."
}