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{
    "id": 908666,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/908666/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 160,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Makueni, WDM-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Daniel Maanzo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2197,
        "legal_name": "Daniel Kitonga Maanzo",
        "slug": "daniel-kitonga-maanzo"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me a chance to comment and support this important Motion on budgetary allocation. I want to thank the Budget and Appropriations Committee and its Chairperson, Hon. Ichung'wah for a job well done. I am aware that they have moved around the country to do public participation and they collected ideas from the people. So, these provisions they are presenting are good. First, I want to comment on the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives that I serve. I have seen allocations on Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI). This is important for incubation of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). SMEs in this country can be incubated to spur investments and encourage young people to go into businesses. There is a building in South B Estate and in Industrial Area that I have seen money allocated to. I believe this money will be sufficient and if there will be a shortfall, it can be considered in the supplementary appropriations. There is also a base in Kisumu that is ready. It only needs polishing up then it can be launched. If KIRDI is supported – I have seen this Budget has supported it further – we can have many small businesses coming up. As a committee, before we made proposals to Hon. Ichung'wah-led Committee, we visited many areas and realised that many young people are interested in starting their own businesses other than looking for employment. The Budget needs to encourage this so that the country goes into manufacturing. Currently, from the goods that are coming in via the SGR, we are importing a lot of tonnes from other countries and exporting few tones for sale abroad. Therefore, once we encourage KIRDI to incubate SMEs we will manufacture products that will sell outside the country and develop our economy. Secondly, I will talk about roads. The way the appropriations have been made is general. You cannot narrow down to specific projects. I believe the way they have been grouped is good. In Makueni, there is a road that links counties and countries. From Tanzania, it is linked through Emali to a place called Ukia. Also, it links through Machakos and Embu. Some sections of the road in Makueni Constituency, between Emali and Ukia are not yet tarmacked. However, there is tarmacking that was started years ago which is ongoing in some parts of Mbooni. I believe if some funds can be allocated – I have communicated several times to the Ministry in writing on the same – such a road can link countries. You can travel from Tanzania to Ethiopia using that particular road; it is a shortcut. That will spur development. The road is closer to Kalamba area where there is a lot of fruit growing. It will be easier for the produce to be transported to the market. I Support this Budget Estimates and I urge Members to also support it when it will be read tomorrow. It will move this country to the next level economic-wise. It is good that Members are able to criticise and it will be good that whatever criticism that comes in is taken, so that we improve this Report before it is finally read tomorrow. I have also looked at irrigation. Some parts of this country are dry. However, we have big rivers like, Tana River and Athi River that flow through Makueni Constituency where Thwake Dam is undergoing construction despite the challenges it had when its construction began. If we can budget more for irrigation, we will have smaller dams taking irrigation to the people and that will be better because we will have many other areas that can grow food and feed the country. I beg to support, thank you."
}