Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 975560,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/975560/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 328,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Saku, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Ali Rasso",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13473,
        "legal_name": "Dido Ali Raso",
        "slug": "dido-ali-raso"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this Motion on the BPS. As we stand on the Floor of this House, we are not purporting to speak for the Treasury. When the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee stands here to present the BPS, actually he is one of us telling us exactly what the content of the BPS is and not to give any excuses that the economy is not doing well. We must really refocus to make sure that our economy begins to do well. That is my entry point in this discussion. Standing Order No.232 is very clear on what we expect from the BPS. We are looking at the BPS and also the Debt Management Strategy because the two must move hand and glove. In terms of generating resources, expenditures, requirements and borrowing, this must form part of the BPS. However, on the other hand, what are the loans or the debts that Kenya is paying? What is the ceiling? What effect does it have on the economy? As Members of Parliament, many of us might not be accountants or economists, but we have a clear line of thought when issues are presented on the Floor of this House in terms of supporting the people of this country. One of the areas that has been highlighted in terms of resources is the Equalisation Fund. I come from a marginalised constituency and county where over the last five to six years, there is always a line that tells us that within the BPS, there is an Equalisation Fund. Actually, the starting point of the budget process is the BPS. What we are always asking is why it is not operationalised. Since 2010, the Constitution clearly said that for 20 years, marginalised counties and constituencies or areas that are lagging behind will receive this funding. For me, it should not just be a line in the budget that we are putting some money. That money must be put to use. If actually that money for the Equalisation Fund is not there, it should not just be used to puff numbers. It should be removed, so that those of us who constitutionally under Article 203 are entitled to those funds, know that it is not there. Vision 2030 is actually the direction for the Kenyan economy. It is very important because it captures all the pillars — that is social, economic, security, and diplomacy. Looking at the BPS, what the Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee should have flagged out is what we have done for the Big Four Agenda and the direction money is moving, so that if some of the money is meant for the State Department of Defence or Early Learning and Basic Education, we are told where it is going. Trying to justify that the economy is not doing well because of coronavirus or other new happenings is not good enough."
}