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{
    "id": 515601,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/515601/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 179,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Eng.) Gumbo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 24,
        "legal_name": "Nicholas Gumbo",
        "slug": "nicholas-gumbo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on Budget Policy Statement. As I contribute to this, it is important that every time we talk on every issue of public finance, we are guided by the provisions of Article 201 of the Constitution which are very clear. I say this because looking at the Budget Policy Statement as has been presented here today, we have had issues. For instance, if you recall, the debate on this Motion had to be suspended yesterday because we were questioning some of the provisions in that document. My sense and I have said this before even before the Committee is that if we could hold true fidelity to the provisions of this Article of the Constitution, then we would not have to --- For the avoidance of doubt, every time we talk about public funds, it is important we adhere to the principle that there shall be openness and accountability, including public participation. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, yes, it is true that the stalemate that we had was on public participation, but as is always the case the Constitution is about broad principles. We all require public participation. I am an Engineer by training like my good friend and senior hon. (Eng.) Mahamud. Public participation is one of the ways of identifying gaps and this is the contention that we have had. We know that in any society, the one thing that will be certain is that the needs of the people in that society will always be more than the resources available in that society. I am reminded of a case I encountered when I visited the United States of America. I had an engagement with the Members of Congress. You know that back there senior Members are called Ranking Members. One of the senior Members told us that he could not continue with the discussion because he had a project in his area of representation which he needed to go and canvass for. I then asked myself: “This is the largest economy in the world. If the representatives of the people have to still canvass for projects to be done in their area, what about a Third World country like Kenya? What am I saying exactly hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker? What I am saying is that each one of the 290 constituencies in this country has got gaps that will need funding. If you go to any constituency whether it is Rarieda, Siaya County or Mandera County where my senior colleague comes from, you definitely will identify gaps. No one questions that. Every time you hold a public hearing anywhere in Kenya whether it is in Nairobi, Mandera, Kajiado, Siaya or Turkana, you will definitely identify gaps. The problem then is about the methodology that will be used to decide on targets for each year. We know that it is not possible to hold discussions in every ward and constituency in this country. 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."
}