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{
    "id": 729428,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/729428/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 367,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "In the SME sector, we are told that nearly two million companies and businesses in the SME startup collapse each year. Two million are registered, but they collapse. This happens because they do not have access to credit and support from Government. If we say that the economy is growing but we only look at that aspect of the economy which is elitist in nature, we miss the point. It is time the National Treasury looked critically at how to facilitate growth in the critical areas of the economy, particularly agriculture and the SME sectors. That is what is important. What we see as economic growth are the thousands of people employed to build the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). This is distorting for it creates an impression that the economy is healthy. Maybe, it is only one project that is accounting for substantial part of that 5.9 per cent. It is important, therefore, for the Government to focus on the concerns of the ordinary Kenyans. Lastly, I want to touch on the area of devolution. In the devolved governments, there are challenges of corruption. However, it is unfortunate that the National Assembly yesterday voted against the proposal of this House to increase revenue that should go to the counties. The Budget Committee of the National Assembly in particular does not see the log in their eye. They do not see the billions that are being wasted and the hundreds of billions being reported daily. If you look at the daily Nation newspaper headline today, Kenya Pipeline has lost Kshs40 billion or is it Kshs60 billion. This happens every day. Billions are being looted or wasted from the National Government, but they do not see it. They are asking us why we are giving money to counties. They feel that county monies are getting lost. It is true that counties are also involved in massive corruption. However, that cannot be a reason as to why we cannot send money to county governments. The National Government is not providing oversight. It is literally collapsing under the weight of corruption. A day does not pass before you read about what is happening in the ministries. It is shocking. However, that should not be a reason to deny the county governments money. There are enough institutions that have been put in place. If each of these institutions were facilitated to carry out their work--- For example, if the county assemblies are facilitated to do their work and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and all these other institutions, then corruption will be a thing of the past."
}