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{
    "id": 352182,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/352182/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 142,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Njenga",
    "speaker_title": "The Member for Gatundu North",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1510,
        "legal_name": "Francis Kigo Njenga",
        "slug": "francis-kigo-njenga"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, hon. Speaker, Sir. I am Francis Kigo Njenga, the hon. Member for Gatundu North. I take this opportunity to congratulate, first, His Excellency the President and his Deputy, yourself and your Deputy, all the hon. Members here and those in the other House. I also want to thank the people of Gatundu North for having given me this opportunity to serve them in this House. As I follow this debate which I support and like; I say that it is marvelous; we have spoken about public spending and capital spending in our constituencies and counties. However, it is high time we also addressed ourselves to the issue of revenue. You can never spend without earning. When President Kibaki came to power, this country could raise Kshs100 billion in taxes. By the time he left we were at over Kshs800 billion from taxes. I urge this House to ensure that by the time President Uhuru leaves, probably, most likely in ten years time, we should be at Kshs2 trillion from taxes, so that we achieve what we are promising the people of Kenya. Hon. Speaker, Sir, we need to review the Income Tax Act, Cap.470 of the laws of Kenya and the Value Added Tax Act. These are taxes that touch on revenue. They create windows and opportunities for corruption. This House should look at these two Acts and ensure that they are tight to ensure that no theft of public money takes place via taxes. Hon. Speaker, Sir, when you get money, the other thing is to protect the money. The biggest problem, other than the twin brothers of corruption and tribalism, has actually been spending our hard earned money in a way that allows the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. This House must address the issue of corruption. In any case, we are the people who have been given the mandate of oversight of our Government. Tribalism has made the Governments in the past actually favour their communities. President Kibaki did not do it. I do not want to say that other Governments did it, but I think it can be seen. We must curb tribalism, so that communities can work together, and this country can go far. With regard to equity, it is our constitutional right to be equal. The social justice that is provided for in the Constitution gives every Kenya dignity. It gives equality and equity. However, it is very sad to see that some areas in the country are marginalized when it comes to the distribution of resources. I think the President will look at that. I am saying so because in my constituency if you want to get a policeman you have to go to the neighbouring constituency. In order to get medical services you have to do the same. Even for one to get justice they have to go to the neighbouring constituency. If you go to Mahiane Hospital you will just find a building there; there is nothing much. We need resources to be equitably distributed in this country to all districts because there is no Kenyan who is not equal to the other. I want this House to look at its role in Budget-making and appropriation. When I look at our state today, we are where the county governments are not a story; rather they are a reality. We now must do the"
}