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{
    "id": 878182,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/878182/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 623,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the microphone had a problem. The illegal importation of maize is a big issue. I did not have a lot of time earlier on to comment heavily on that issue, but hope that this House will not embarrass itself again, like we did during the Ruaraka Report. I hope that this Report will be passed and ensure that those people pay because, if we do not, what Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. said will be a reality. Most of us, Senators, will be afraid of going home. We will be afraid of going to our houses because we enjoy the lavish life. We can afford to have a driver to take us there, but we no longer look at the interests of the people who send us here to represent them. What we are looking after is self-interest. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I hope that this time around, we will put our foot down and ensure that all the recommendations by the good Committee will be followed through by the National Treasury. I would like to state categorically that if the National Treasury does not take into consideration the recommendation by the Senate of the Republic of Kenya, I will be the first one to vote ‘No’ to the Division of Revenue Bill. Why would I allow money to be reduced, yet people in Narok County are suffering? They are not getting support in terms of healthcare. The trend we are setting now with this appetite of borrowing will make it very difficult for us. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, based on that BPS, by 2020 the exchange rate of the United States of America Dollar to Kenya Shillings will be almost Kshs150. The Dollar will continue growing and even the interest rate of the external debts will go higher. We will be reduced to a country where 60 per cent or even more of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will be towards paying the debt. I would like to conclude by saying that we must remember that when we decided to devolve health care services, we did so because we wanted the services to reach the people. We did not do that because we wanted money to remain in Afya House. We devolved agriculture because we knew that it is the backbone of this economy. The day that we separate special interests from the interests of the nation, is the day that we will move forward. I beg to support."
}