Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 455548,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/455548/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 345,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mule",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2321,
        "legal_name": "Stephen Mutinda Mule",
        "slug": "stephen-mutinda-mule"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the Supplementary Budget. First and foremost, I want to thank the Budget and Appropriations Committee for work well done. I would like to touch on very few issues, so that I give a chance to other Members. Hon. Deputy Speaker, you realize that KURA, KERRA and REA did not get substantial amounts of money. However, I want to confirm and confess in this House that what REA has done in my constituency for the last eight months is tremendous. We were able to connect more than 25 primary schools to power and did wiring in one class. This means that if REA is given more money in this Supplementary Budget, we are going to grow our IT sector. Once a school has been given electricity, you can be sure that the village in which the school is has also got electricity. Second is the issue of food security. I come from the lower eastern part of the country. I can assure you that the rains have failed and there is no food. I thank the Chairman of this Committee for looking forward to have food security for our people, who will soon be looking for more food. Third is the issue of the cash transfer to the elderly. For a while, as leaders, we have been challenged by communities where cash transfer was not being done because it was on a pilot basis. Now we realize that every Member in this House will manage the cash transfers to the elderly, poor and the vulnerable groups. Last but not least is the issue of the socio-economic audit of the Constitution. I want this House to realize the importance of this programme. Right now we are sitting here as a Parliament looking for monies to give to departments while Kshs80 million is lying at the Central Bank of Kenya; it has not been absorbed by the county governments. This matter will be sorted out by the audit team. As much as we would wish to support Madam Wanga, it is important that we follow procedures that we have laid down in this House. I sit in the Departmental Committee on Health. There is a looming strike by doctors in this country. We are supposed to look for at least Kshs1.3 billion to pay interns who have been working in hospitals since August, yet they have not been paid to date. We have not provided any money in this Supplementary Budget. I want to urge the Cabinet Secretary for Health and the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury to do whatever they can do and withdraw Kshs1.8 billion from the money lying at the Central Bank of Kenya and pay doctors who have been working since August up to today without pay. This House must ensure that whatever is important for this country is given first priority. I support."
}