Prof. Margaret Kamar

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 2971 to 2980 of 3044.

• 18 Jun 2008 in National Assembly: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to contribute to this Budget. I would like to make a few comments. First, I would like to say that the Budget addressed quite a number of issues that touched on the common man. Therefore, to some extent I can say that the Budget was responsive to the needs of this country. The Minister recognised the deep-seated poverty in this country. He raised a number of challenges that need to be addressed. One of the challenges he raised was the issue of inequality in incomes and assets. He did further ... view
• 18 Jun 2008 in National Assembly: which our people are crying about. Poverty is not linked to bread, as we were told. It is more linked to the unga that is meant for ugali . Mr. Speaker, Sir, I think there is a need to look at how we can address the issue of food security and enable the farmers, who feed the nation, to feed it better. I was expecting the Minister, while thinking of food processing in the sectors for export, to enable farmers process maize for themselves. The farmers should have milling plants and should be able to mill their wheat and maize. ... view
• 18 Jun 2008 in National Assembly: gave money to women through Equity Bank. However much Equity Bank has performed in this country, we have had problems. The money that was sent through Equity Bank--- I sent women, as the chairperson of Maendeleo ya Wanawake then--- I was surprised that they were giving out the same money at an interest rate of 24 per cent. How do you get money that is earmarked for women and sell it at commercial rates? Another institution that was given funds was the Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT). In the whole of the north Rift, all the way from Turkana District, ... view
• 18 Jun 2008 in National Assembly: I think it is very important that we agree that if we are going to increase this money, we should not increase it for a bank, or an institution that is going to enjoy it and leave our youth and women in the same poverty, if not more. An interest rate of 20 per cent is a rip-off! It is meant to suck whatever else one has. So, it is my strong suggestion that as the Minister increases the allocations to these Funds, the money should never go through the same channel it went through last time. I will, in ... view
• 18 Jun 2008 in National Assembly: Order! My attention has been drawn to lack of quorum in the House. Is it so Madam Clerk? If that is so could the Division Bell be rung? view
• 18 Jun 2008 in National Assembly: Hon. Members, since there is no quorum in the House, this House is, therefore, adjourned until tomorrow Thursday, 19th June, 2008, at 2.30 p.m. The House rose at 5.00 p.m. view
• 14 May 2008 in National Assembly: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this Motion. I rise to support the Motion. We have been informed that we are in a very special situation, and that is why we have the kind of Cabinet we have. We have a Cabinet that was formed to take care of political parties, regions and, I dare say, tribes, sub-tribes and gender. But why did we do that? We are aware that there are complaints from all the three quarters that were supposed to have been considered. This means that even with the 40-plus ... view
• 14 May 2008 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the greatest problem now is that we have 42 Ministers, 51 Assistant Ministers and no satisfaction on the ground. The most worrying thing to me is what we wanted to satisfy more than worrying about having 42 Ministers and 51 Assistant Ministers. We shall not satisfy what we wanted to. Instead, we are creating what we are supposed to be killing. May 14, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1013 The problems that arose soon after the general election last year tended to divide us along tribal, regional and party lines. We know our political parties have been ethnicised. ... view
• 14 May 2008 in National Assembly: If you compare the quality - and I did mention this early in the year when I and hon. Kabando wa Kabando were presenting our Report--- When you attend an international forum, immediately debate begins we have less participation by Kenyans. One wonders, is it because we did not prepare the Minister well, or it is because our Ministers are misplaced? This happens when we have misplaced appointments, where someone like me, who is a soil scientist, is appointed as the Minister for Security, for example, and I cannot dare go out to represent this country. I thank the hon. ... view
• 14 May 2008 in National Assembly: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to support. view