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{
    "id": 438720,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/438720/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 224,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mulu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1955,
        "legal_name": "Benson Makali Mulu",
        "slug": "benson-makali-mulu"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Speaker. I want to thank you for giving me a chance to contribute to this subject, which is quite dear to my heart. I want to support the adoption of this Report. I want to start by thanking Kenyans for giving this country the Constitution 2010. In this Constitution, this House has been given a huge responsibility in terms of the Budget making process. This is a serious departure from what used to happen in the past. When I look at this Budget of Kshs1.78 trillion, it has quite some positive aspects, which if we do not mention, it will be unfair to the process. Looking at the Budget and the process, we all as Kenyans appreciate the opportunity to have public participation in the Budget-making process. For some of us who interacted with Kenyans in the rural setting, Kenyans appreciated very much the fact that Parliament had gone out there to interact with them in terms of the Budget-making process. That is something worth mentioning and it is positive. The other thing, which is also positive, is the analyzing of this Budget in terms of what is called targeting the Budget. Some good work has been done in terms of trying to target the Budget. More so, in the 2014/2015 Financial Year, we have projected a GDP growth rate of 6.1 per cent. If we have to achieve that growth rate, it is important that money is targeted to the right sectors. If you look at this Budget, a lot of resources have been targeted to the infrastructure, agriculture, energy, education and water. These are sectors which will grow our economy and at the same time generate employment for our young people. The other area which is also important is the social safety net fund. This Budget has enhanced the allocation to this fund, which is targeted for the elderly in this country, the disadvantaged and children from poor backgrounds. This Budget, in terms of targeting, some good work has been done. The other area of interest is the area of loans. We have said in this House in the past that whatever loans that we get from our friends from outside this country should be used well. If you look at this year’s Budget, you realize that all the money that we are getting from our development partners is going to be used for the productive sector. This means that these funds will help this country to grow, unlike the situation where these loans are used to fund the Recurrent Expenditure. That is also a very positive aspect of this Budget. For the first time, the Parliamentary Service Commission has been allocated almost all the amount that they requested for. As a Commission, and the Speaker you have the honour to Chair that Commission, we should take care of the development and recurrent needs of this House. Having said that, there are also areas in which we can improve as a country. I just want to spend a few minutes on this because it is important. The Budget is not clear on the targets and outputs that should be achieved at the end of the day. That is the whole essence of programme-based budgeting. It is for the country to say that this year we are targeting to do 100 kilometres of tarmac roads, grade 1,000 kilometres or do 100 boreholes. That is the whole purpose of programme-based budgeting. If that is not done The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}