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{
    "id": 668526,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/668526/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 115,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Eng.) Gumbo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 24,
        "legal_name": "Nicholas Gumbo",
        "slug": "nicholas-gumbo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Speaker for an opportunity to contribute to this Bill. Without wanting to repeat what my colleagues have said, I think the proposals which have been made here are good but they also raise some concerns. The fact that we are trying to finance almost one-third of our Budget through debt is a matter that should concern us quite a bit. We need to be making our Budget in tandem with the requirements of the new Constitution. Every year, this House appropriates vast sums of money to various ministries, departments and agencies. The following year Departmental Committees look at the budget submittals of those ministries, departments and agencies. The idea of looking at the budget proposals is to look at the issues of absorption and cases of, for example, Ministries which are chronically mentioned in our reports with regard to misuse of funds. It will be an exercise in futility if certain parts of this House do not work. Every year we finger ministries, departments and agencies that are chronically engaged in misuse of public resources and yet nothing, in terms of allocations, is done to give an indication that those concerns are being taken seriously. The Budget that we have put before this House of almost Kshs2.3 trillion is actually bigger than the national budgets of Uganda and Tanzania put together. It will be good if such vast sums of money will go into tangible programmes that improve the lives of Kenyans. That still remains the question and challenge for this House. Our country remains one of the most unequal countries in Africa with almost 46 per cent of our people living below the poverty line. It is common knowledge that no matter what we do, the more people we leave behind, the only scheme left for them is ideas on how to take some of us, who are perceived to be in privileged positions down. Even as we look at the budget proposals and appropriations that we do every year, let us be mindful and look at innovative ways to bridge the yawning gaps that are growing everyday between the haves and have nots in the Republic of Kenya. Kenya is beginning to adopt the dubious distinction of being one of the most unequal societies in the world. Everybody who lives in this country, whether rich or poor has as much right as everybody else. Therefore, if we design financial proposals that do not look into the welfare of people to a large extent we will be legislating in vain. I want to half-heartedly support this Appropriation Bill, noting particularly, for example, the allocations we have put towards measures to do with security, especially the police service. I know the issues that concern the police service are providing adequate housing, police insurance and ultimately barring those challenges put before the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to finally come to fruition. Welfare and morale go hand in hand. It disheartens me as I walk through the corridors of Parliament to meet police officers who have worked in the force for over 40 years and are still in the rank of constable. My understanding would be that such fellows if, indeed, have not been performing for 40 years to an extent that they cannot even be promoted one rank, the best thing is to discharge them from service. It cannot be possible to motivate somebody when they have remained in the same rank for 40 years. I do not even think all of us seated in this House would find it exciting anymore if we are to remain nothing but just Members of Parliament for 40 years. 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."
}