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{
    "id": 667850,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/667850/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 61,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Chepkong’a",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1154,
        "legal_name": "Samuel Kiprono Chepkonga",
        "slug": "samuel-kiprono-chepkonga"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to support the Second Supplementary Budget. I note that a number of proposals particularly on the First Supplementary Budget, were to reduce the budgets for a number of departments. As a result of that reduction, it caused a lot of disruption in the activities of those departments. I note particularly in the water boards in which contracts were ongoing, monies to those projects were reduced and they were left without any money. So, when you think about the First Supplementary Budget causing such huge reductions and, therefore, bringing back the same increase--- I am supporting this Supplementary Budget because of the payment of Value Added Tax (VAT). This VAT was already deducted by the Government and companies have suffered as a result of non-refund. What we see in the Second Supplementary Budget is a refund of Kshs7.1 billion out of Kshs11 billion. What happens to the balance of about Kshs4 billion? They should have cleared all that in the Second Supplementary Budget. So, we would like to ask the Budget and Appropriations Committee under the able leadership of my good friend, Hon. Mutava to ensure that the backlog in the VAT refund is cleared. It goes back to about four years in some cases and that is very bad for businesses. Businesses are struggling as a result of deductions of this VAT, which has not been paid over time. I note that the question of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), particularly the integrated IDPs, has not been resolved. I would have expected to see something in the Second Supplementary Budget. We have so many integrated IDPs who have not been paid to date. I am speaking out of authority. In my own constituency, the integrated IDPs in Burnt Forest have not been paid, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I was reading a text message this morning. The IDPs are asking me to meet them so that we can discuss how they can be paid. How do I discuss how they should be paid? I cannot resolve the issue because no budget has been provided. I would like to request the Leader of the Majority Party to ensure that the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) Report is implemented."
}