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{
    "id": 461933,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/461933/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 158,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Abdalla",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 382,
        "legal_name": "Amina Ali Abdalla",
        "slug": "amina-abdalla"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, hon. Speaker, Sir. From the outset, I want to congratulate my colleague, hon. Jamleck Kamau, for bringing this Motion that intends to save the taxpayers’ money. I have for long stated that Parliament requires a stronger PR Department because when I came back to this House in March this year, for the first time, I was booked on an Economy Class ticket to Mombasa for a meeting that I attended with hon. Jamleck Kamau and some Commissioners, who were all in the Business Class section. Parliament has not taken advantage of that very bold cost saving measure that they have taken by publicising that we, as Parliamentarians, have shifted to ensure that money that is allocated to our institution is well spent in travel that is not only essential, but cost effective. Parliament needs to invest in informing the other organs of the Government that if we, the persons who debate and allocate the money that they use in their Ministries, can travel Economy Class, who are they not to travel Economy Class in the short-term sector? This is a rather embarrassing issue because in many situations, we are having our members of the Executive negotiating grants and loans with ambassadors who when they travel back to their countries, they travel Economy Class while us and our colleagues in the Executive not only travel Business Class, I hear there is a new trend where they are travelling First Class. It reminds me of the Statement of the former British Ambassador who said that Kenyans have vomited on the donors’ shoes. It is truly the case in that we are begging them to support some programmes in our country, yet the money that we generate in our country, we spend it paying for Business Class tickets when the donors are using their money in travelling Economy Class. So, it is not only a money saving issue, but a value for money issue that we need to ensure the rest of the Government undertakes. There are international meetings that every Ministry knows that they will attend, but because it is lucrative and more expensive to buy a ticket from your preferred travel agent at the last minute, and this includes Parliament, there is a tendency of planning not to plan in order give more money to your supplier. 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."
}