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{
    "id": 421369,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/421369/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 345,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. ole Ntutu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2535,
        "legal_name": "Patrick Keturet Ole Ntutu",
        "slug": "patrick-keturet-ole-ntutu"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, if you look at the issue of drought coupled with global warming that is being experienced in this world, you will realize that, if we do not take care of our farmers, we will not have food to eat as a country. If you look at the basic items that the hon. Member has talked about, you will find that electricity, which is used in the rural areas--- The Jubilee Government has talked about taking laptops to rural areas. But how will we use those computers without electricity? I know they are talking about solar energy, but solar energy cannot be depended upon like electricity does. Therefore, the issue of electricity is very important. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, with regard to water, I come from a constituency that is really hit by shortage of water. Exempting water, milk and cream from taxation is a good thing. I would also want to talk about the advantages that VAT has brought to our country. If we look at the issue of the current debate on wage bill, it is, indeed, not a laughing matter. We must be able to address the issue of the ballooning wage bill in this country. I want to thank His Excellency the President and his Deputy for taking the lead as leaders of this country to say: “Look, we have a problem as a country and we must address it.” I know that the national Parliament has not been keen on what the President is saying. I want to call upon this august House to listen to the voices that are saying that we really need to do something about the wage bill. When you look at the money that we need for development – and hon. Ng’ongo, who is my good friend, will agree with me that, in our Budget and Appropriations Committee--- The other day, we were talking about giving the county governments Kshs218 billion to continue with devolution and also giving the national Government over Kshs800 billion. I know we had the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) the other day talking about the need to give the county governments about Kshs238 billion. But when we look at what we have, it is not enough. I know, therefore, it is a populist statement to say that we need to have some of these items included. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, when you look at the money that we are giving to our vulnerable members of the society, the old people; we need money. I support this Bill, but when it comes to the Third Reading, let us look keenly on the items that we want to include. I will also come up with some items that we need to add to hon. Ng’ongos list. With those remarks, I support the Bill."
}