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{
    "id": 941703,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/941703/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 619,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Farhiya",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13179,
        "legal_name": "Farhiya Ali Haji",
        "slug": "farhiya-ali-haji"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the National Treasury told us that we have to be accountable to the common mwananchi and they need absolute figures. This is because when we say “a percentage of the GDP” it is only the experts who can understand. If you tell the layman that it is Kshs9 trillion and you surpass that, then they know you have reached. Sometimes these parameters keep on changing. Last time we had a meeting with the National Treasury, one of the questions I asked is why the revenue was not growing in tandem with the GDP since they had said the GDP is growing. The GDP is supposed to grow in tandem with the revenue but it is not. What is happening? Either somebody is messing around with the economic parameters or the money is not reaching the ground. So, there is a mishap that needed to be cured. If this is curing that, so be it. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not recommend an absolute figure. I recommend - I am giving part of the solution – that we use the GDP because it determines your ability to pay. At the same time, we need to have an absolute figure that is informed by the GDP that exists. That cures both issues. You have an absolute figure but it must be informed by the growth of the economy because your ability to pay is determined by that. I also wanted to mention about the EAC Treaty, but since it has been dealt with, I will not engage in it. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, part of the reason why we go into debt and our economy is not doing well, is that we do not tap the resources that we have properly. For example, we have a lot of opportunity for clean energy in this country, including sand. Like where I come from, God has given sand in abundance and that is a safe energy that is so cheap but we have failed to tap. Part of the reason why the manufacturing industry is not growing in this country is because electricity is expensive and, therefore, the overhead cost for manufacturers is higher. As a result of that, we are not expanding our ability to manufacture. For three quarters of the year, we have sand in Wajir County. Can you imagine where we would be if we tapped all that sand and included it in the grid of this country? Our electricity would be so cheap, not only because of free energy but also because of"
}