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{
    "id": 654030,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/654030/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 402,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Bowen",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2256,
        "legal_name": "David Kangongo Bowen",
        "slug": "david-kangongo-bowen"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I support the approval of this Supplementary Budget. At the last quarter of the financial year, it is proper that we approve this Supplementary Budget to fund Government operations, including payment of public servants for the remaining months of the year. I did not have time to join the Liaison Committee which came up with this Supplementary Budget. I congratulate the Members because they have come up with very good Supplementary Estimates, given that we do not have the substantive Budget and Appropriations Committee of the House. There are areas of this Supplementary Budget that I want to speak about. This House has been appropriating money to the security docket for a very long time. Security allocations in our Budgets have been substantial yet our officers do not feel the impact of those allocations. We still find police officers living in mud-walled houses and uni-huts. We still find prison officers living in polythene housing and shanties. In terms of security, we are seeing the Government giving a lot of money to the security sector. The issue of cattle rustling and conflict among communities in Kenya is still widespread because we are not addressing the real problem in these communities. The pastoral communities do not require police officers in their areas. They only require good schools, water points for their animals and infrastructure. If we open up these areas, the issue of cattle rustling and insecurity will end. Yesterday, we saw drama in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, especially the Department of Irrigation. The Galana Irrigation Project is almost becoming a white elephant. Huge chunks of money were allocated to this project five years ago and we are not seeing benefits coming out of it as in the initial feasibility study and proposal of the project. We are seeing many problems in the National Irrigation Board (NIB). I want to speak from a point of information. In my constituency, there is a project which for the last seven years has spent almost Kshs150 million and we are seeing nothing. This is a project of only four kilometers of pipe works. This is a national cash cow where individuals just milk taxpayers’ money. Yesterday, Members of Parliament from Turkana County brought a petition to this House concerning the NIB. In Marakwet East and West Pokot, we have the same problems. I would suggest that the Cabinet Secretary who overturned the decision of the NIB to send away the General Manager did not act in a proper manner. It is improper."
}