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{
    "id": 470155,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/470155/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 83,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "look at these other avenues where these Kshs300 billion has gone, Kshs3 billion is not an issue. I stand here to support Parliamentarians that whatever they are asking for, they are within reason and in my humble opinion, if you are going to ask them to do the job that they are expected to do by the electorate, the kind of money which they have been offered is not sufficient. Though the wage bill is unsustainable, it is important to know that there are other ways that we can recover that. Mr. Speaker, Sir the President spoke about industries, but I would like to add that the industrial revolution should be targeted to agriculture and modeled or remodeled towards agriculture. It is because agriculture and value-adding in this sector, has other multiplier effects which include creation of employment to many of our youth who are currently unemployed. With regard to food insecurity, it is unbelievable that in this day and age, we are still talking about food insecurity. We have to take a bold step which the President talked about and that is irrigation. We have potential on hundreds and thousands of acres in this country which is ripe and ready for irrigation. This has to be a two-step approach between the national and county governments. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the issue of affordability of imports, access roads in the agricultural areas have to be addressed and, of course, land reclamation through irrigation and as I have said, the promotion of research and development. We need to diversify from our traditional exports such as tea, coffee and horticulture and make sure that we look at other markets. This can be done through regional integration. We must pursue strategies that will foster stability in Africa in general and the greater horn of Africa. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with regard to the issue of fiscal discipline, expenditure and taxation, we were told that there will be more tax reforms. This is very welcome because as you know now, we have got two levels of government and it has to be very clear. Who exactly takes what and who collects what? We have to clarify the rules and responsibilities of tax collection in the various levels of Government so as to enhance tax collection. The President talked about procurement, and I was happy to note that he talked about this in line with assisting the youth of our country to have an advantage. This will be used to spur economic growth by enabling the youth to be major suppliers to Government hence creating more jobs. That is encouraging for our country. Investors need a climate where they can invest. Investors need a climate where we do not have too many roadblocks or bureaucracies as they go about their business. We have been told that, that will be dealt with. With regard to the issue of human resources, the key in this is in financing and development of schools, polytechnics, technical colleges and universities. Energy plays a critical role not only as an economic development indicator but also as an input in production. It is worth noting that in Kenya today, we have really exhausted our hydrocarbons and we should look at other avenues. There are other avenues such as geothermal, wind energy, coal and even other co-generation from the sugar industry and the oil industry."
}