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{
    "id": 802300,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/802300/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 110,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Katoo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 199,
        "legal_name": "Judah Katoo Ole-Metito",
        "slug": "judah-ole-metito"
    },
    "content": "I was saying with regard to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that, since the resources are limited, the Ministry will focus on expanding Kenya’s diplomatic representation and footprint across the globe and strengthening Kenya’s leadership role in shaping a global agenda at the bilateral and multilateral levels. To aid in the achievement of the Big Four Agenda, the Ministry will focus on its engagement with countries and regions which have comparative advantage to drive Kenya’s agenda in the Big Four and lobby to translate the current enabling business environment to become attractive for long-term and sustained investment. As this House may be aware, regional integration is key to our development in this region and the wider African continent. Economic partnership, therefore, plays a critical role in so far as Vision 2030, Sustainable Development Goals as well as Agenda Africa 2063 are concerned. Kenya is a leading player in championing for regional integration. This is where the Ministry of East African Community and Northern Corridor Development comes in within the region and globally. It is noted that Kenya was among the first two African countries to ratify the African Continental Free Trade Area and the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA). Kenya and Ghana were the first two countries to ratify those agreements. The Ministry of East African Community and Northern Corridor Development plays a critical role in this arrangement, being in charge of coordination of regional integration activities. But with a proposed budgetary allocation of Kshs1.09 billion against a resource requirement of Kshs1.9 billion, the resources during the medium-term period for Financial Year 2018/2019- 2020/2021 will be geared towards improving the implementation of East African Customs Union, among others. But my Committee observed that the Ministry was not allocated adequate resources to enable it operationalise its activities in line with additional mandate of Northern Corridor Development, LAPSSET and South Sudan Liaison Office. Some of the critical areas not funded amount to Kshs406 million. However, the committee noted that there was only one pending bill, and that was with the Ministry of Defence, of Kshs858 million, which dates back to 1990, that is 28 years old. This pending bill has been a subject of a court dispute which eventually was awarded by the High Court, totaling to Kshs1.4 billion. That is inclusive of The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}