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{
    "id": 878787,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/878787/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 544,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Makali Mulu",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1955,
        "legal_name": "Benson Makali Mulu",
        "slug": "benson-makali-mulu"
    },
    "content": "From the word go, when you look at this BPS, it is projecting a budget deficit of 5.6 per cent meaning that after we do all our collections as a country, we will be expected to borrow out there to the tune of 5.6 per cent of the Budget. To me, the policy question is: What is the policy of this Government in terms of moving towards a balanced budget or what we call a zero-budget so that we do not have to borrow? That is the first question. Members have spoken about the Big Four Agenda. I like the comments that have been made that this Budget, on the Big Four Agenda, presents big issues. You realise it is only about 6 per cent of the total budget of direct Government funding. There is what is called the enablers in terms of making sure that we get the Big Four Agenda achieved. That is what Chair Pkosing is talking about because roads are an enabling environment. The Government is indicating that some of the Big Four Agenda may be taken by the private sector but the question is: Have we put in place measures that will ensure that the private sector is able to complement the Government effort? If that does not work, this policy will not be achievable. These are the hard questions. The other question is in terms of policy. Let us look at the domestic savings policy. This is what Hon. Musimba was talking about. In this country, we are saving about 18.6 per cent. Our investment is about 24 per cent. What is the policy to grow our domestic savings so that we bridge this gap of between domestic savings and investments? Unless that becomes zero, we will continue borrowing. These are the questions that we need to ask the Government so that, as we move forward, we need to see deliberate efforts to grow our domestic savings as a country, so that we can avoid getting funding from out there."
}