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"id": 728080,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/728080/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Gikaria",
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"speaker": {
"id": 2489,
"legal_name": "David Gikaria",
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"content": "Parliament is supposed to critically look at the Bill and scrutinise what has been allocated under the Bill and give a meaningful judgment because of the concentration. I am not saying that whatever we are contributing is not productive, but if you look at the concentration of every Member that is supposed to be giving their input towards the Bill, it is something that is very important. Therefore, we need to look at the Constitution and ask ourselves whether having the elections in August is reasonable. It will happen in another five years. What will happen? Do we again go through the same scenario? If it was to happen in December, we would have gone through the normal budget process without going through it during an electioneering period like this one and not having enough representation. So, it is important for us as a country to look at the Constitution and see when we are supposed to hold elections. Of course, Hon. David Ochieng from Ugenya had tried to bring a Bill to that effect, which did not go through. But it is important so that we can have all the information that we require for this. Secondly, we should look at the Public Service, which is the biggest spender. As the Chair has rightly put it, there will be an economic slowdown because of the electioneering period. It will affect the first quarter of the financial year, which is very crucial for the Government in terms of revenue collection. If you look at the first quarter, which starts in July, you will find that most of the issues that are done towards the end of a financial year normally experience slowdown in terms of Government spending and the economy is affected in one way or the other. Therefore, having elections in the first quarter when the Government is supposed to be collecting money to cater for this Budget, it affects. It is, therefore, important for us to look at these issues critically as Parliament. Without much ado, I am a Member of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security, and when the Ministry brought their budgetary provisions before us, we were concerned about a few issues regarding the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government and the work it is supposed to do. When we have elections, they are supposed to have enough money to deploy enough police officers and security agencies to manage elections in a free and fair manner. Before, during and after the elections, we need to have some order in this country. We needed enough money within the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, so that they can take care of the elections. Looking at Item Vote R1021, under the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government on population management, it is good to note that the issuance of identity cards (IDs) has become a problem in this country. When we were interrogating the directors on these matters, they required a lot of money to acquire new technology for the new generation IDs. They had requested for some amount of money which they were never given. Again, we are still at the point where we cannot issue ID cards to our young people who require them, not only for voting purposes, but also for other important duties in this country. So, under this Ministry, we thought there are issues that we needed to look at, particularly on matters that will assist the country. On Vote R1023 on correctional services, we need to improve our prisons to be seen as correctional facilities and not as punishment places. If you go out there, you will be very surprised to hear of huge debts that the Prisons Service owes suppliers. Hon. Jakoyo is my friend, but he is interfering. He is a very good friend of mine, and I appreciate."
}