Wednesday, 5th June 2024

I direct that the Quorum Bell be rung for ten minutes.

You may stop the Bell. Let us proceed.

Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, on behalf of the Leader of the Majority Party, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table:

Reports of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements for the Year ended 30th June 2023, and the certificates therein, in respect of:

Hon. Mutunga, you had a Statement on the Passing on of the Former Member for Nyambene South.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to make a Statement on the demise of the former Member of Parliament for Nyambene South Constituency, Hon. Kennan Martin Kaunyangi Thimangu.

The late Hon. Thimangu was born in Tigania Sub-County in Meru in 1934. He attended Alliance High School from 1951 to 1954 and thereafter, joined Makerere University where he earned a Diploma in Agriculture, becoming one of Meru County’s early academic achievers.

The late Hon. Thimangu began his career as a Field Agricultural Officer and later ventured into Entomology Research before joining politics.

The late Hon. Thimangu vied for the Nyambene South parliamentary seat in 1966 following a by-election and was elected to represent the constituency. He served his term diligently and was an active member of the Kenya African National Union Party (KANU) . He was dedicated to improving access to education in his area where, together with his spouse, he built schools and financially supported the needy children in their education.

The late Hon. Thimangu was a staunch Roman Catholic and a respected elder of Antuamakia Clan who guided and mentored young leaders. His embodiment of integrity and a legacy on contribution to education, environmental conservation and economic development still lives on.

On my own behalf, and that of the people of Tigania West Constituency, I wish to take this opportunity to condole with the family of the late Hon. Kennan Martin Kaunyangi Thimangu, his relatives, friends and the people of Kenya, at large. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

I thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

Is there any other Statement or should we move to the next Order? Okay.

Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs. Did you have a response for statement for today or are you being confused by Hon. Kenga?

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I am just being obstructed by the kingpin, but not the original.

Maybe, I need a week to respond. Thanks.

(Hon. Deputy Speaker consulted with the Clerk-at-the-Table)

Okay, Chairperson Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs, I am told there are three of them. Will all three responses be given in a week’s time? Are the responses for all three of them?

Yes.

Okay. You may proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I have three requests for statements to respond to. One is by the Member of Parliament for Mwingi Central, who I think is in the House. Another one is by my good friend, the Member for Kirinyaga County, and another for the Member for Ijara. I will start with the one by the Member for Kirinyaga County.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, the Member of Parliament for Kirinyaga County, Hon. Jane Maina, sought for a statement regarding the arrest of Alfred Ribai Chomba for the defilement of a minor, Penninah Wambui, in Kirinyaga West Sub- County in Kirinyaga County. The Hon. Member particularly sought the following:

Thank you. Is that all? Are you done?

I have two others but I thought you wanted to let the Member probably…

No.

Later? So, I continue with the rest?

Yes. Continue with the rest, please. We also have a timeline for the Budget.

Okay. Well guided.

We have another Speaker here. The next is a Statement after a request from the Member for Mwingi Central.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I want to state as follows: On 9th January 2024 at 11.25 a.m., Mr. Peter Kanyite Kaliko reported at Hola Police Station that Mr. Benjamin Mwaniki Kathengu was missing after the latter failed to pick his wife's calls since the day before.

Subsequently, police officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Hola Police Station went to his house on the same day and found it locked from inside, which forced them to break it. Unfortunately, he was found lying down dead on the bed with no visible injuries. The scene was processed and samples of blood and mucus collected and a suicide note was also recovered. The body was removed to Hola Hospital Mortuary for preservation.

However, on 10th January 2024, the body was removed to Mwingi Level VI Hospital, since Hola has no pathologist. The postmortem was conducted and the cause of death established as resulting from head injury caused by blunt object or fall and a suspected lung disease due to a history of smoking.

On 23rd January of the same month, Mr. Ibrahim Salat Omar, an assistant manager at Heller Petrol Station where the deceased worked as a manager, provided known handwritings of the deceased which was compared with the suicide note. The forensic document examiner from DCI Headquarters was of the opinion that the handwritings were authored by the same person.

Investigations are on-going as police await a report from Government Chemist indicating whether or not the blood and mucus samples collected contain any poisonous substance capable of causing death and the cybercrime analyst report on any forensic evidence that might be available on the deceased mobile phones. Seventeen witnesses have recorded statements, but no arrest has been made.

Hon. Speaker, on the last one. I do not know whether the Member of Parliament for Ijara Constituency is in the House. Oh yes, he is here. I need protection, Hon. Deputy Speaker. You have a problematic “assistant Speaker.”

The third Statement was sought by the Member for Ijara Constituency, who is confirmed to be in the House, on the mysterious death and disappearance of Mr. Jibril Abdullah and Mr. Hared Ali Khalif.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, Mr. Yusuf Abdullah Siget reported the disappearance of Mr. Jabril Abdullahi Farah at Ngara Police Station on 14th February 2024 at around 2.00 p.m. He reported that Mr. Mohamed Khalif requested him to accompany him to Ngara area to purchase a motor vehicle. Mr. Mohamed Khalif was on board a motor vehicle registration number KDE 617G, a Toyota Succeed make, silver in colour, while in the company of Mr. Jabir Farah.

They drove along Kware Road, off Ngara Equity Roundabout. However, they were blocked by a Prado motor vehicle black in colour whose number plate they did not capture. Two armed

men alighted from the Prado and abducted Mohamud Mohamed Khalif and Jabir Abdullahi Farah, while the reporter escaped.

Investigations were launched immediately. However, the CCTV footage from the neighbouring shops and the National Police Service Integrated Command, Control and Communication Centre (IC3) did not capture the incident. Their mobile phones were subjected to forensic analysis, but did not yield any evidence either. On 19th March 2024, Mohamud Mohamed Khalif presented himself to DCIO Central and stated that he was driven back to Eastleigh on the previous night after being held in a place he does not know and that he had left Jabir Farah with the abductors. He further stated that Jabir is a refugee from Dagahale Refugee Camp and that they had travelled together to Nairobi on 11th February 2024.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, the disappearance of Mr. Hared Ali Kalif was reported at Hulugho Police Station on 18th March 2024. It was reported that on 18th March 2024 at about 1.00 p.m., three-armed men entered Hared's homestead at Hulugho Village, Hulugho Sub-County in Garissa County and forcefully abducted him. The abductee unsuccessfully persuaded the armed men not to abduct him. They drove away in an unidentified Prado vehicle and crossed the Kenya Somalia border.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, after the reports of the two missing persons were made, the police circulated signals of missing persons within the Republic of Kenya, putting all the stations on lookout in case the persons as per the circulated details are found within their areas of jurisdiction. Investigations into the whereabouts of the missing persons are still ongoing.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I submit.

You have completed all your Statements. Right? I would like to recognise the presence of the following schools:

Next Order.

Proceed, Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I beg to move the following Motion:

Put off the other microphones. I think they went on. The microphones are malfunctioning today. You can move to the other microphone.

On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

What is your point of order, Hon. T.J. Kajwang’? He has not even begun.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, you know he is the ‘Finance Minister’. Traditionally, the Finance Minister should move the Motion from the Table. Can he be given a microphone so that Kenyans can see him right at the Table? That is the Commonwealth experience. When he is behind there, he looks like every one of us and you know we are very small people. He should come right here at the Table and move the Motion.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, if there is a microphone there, I will oblige to go there.

I do not think there will be any harm in that happening. Is there a microphone available? Let us confirm first if a microphone is available. It looks like we are having a challenge with microphones and so, proceed from there. In future, we will take note of what you have said, Hon. Kajwang’.

Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I wish to move the following Motion:

THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Budget and Appropriations

the departmental committees, including commas and full stops. The Budget and Appropriations Committee thinks that they know better about the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) which they oversee more than us. That is why the whole process has been very consultative.

This Order Paper that is so huge has all the Schedules. Majority of these arrangements and re-arrangements that have happened, as contained in Schedule 2, have been carried by the departmental committees, especially through the appearances of their chairpersons before the Budget and Appropriations Committee.

We are making this Budget on a background of the Calendar year 2023. It is one we can measure whether the policies we make in this House, including this one we are making, which is the Budget, responds to the needs of our economy. In the Calendar year 2023, the economy of Kenya grew by 5.6 per cent which is a percentage which puts Kenya as the 27th fastest growing economy in the world. In that length, it shows that the policies this House has been making – in so far as the management of our economy is concerned - are working. Our inflation was at 5 per cent in April. It was at 5.1 per cent in May. Our target benchmark for inflation, as a country, is 5 per cent with a band of 2.5 per cent either way - that is plus or minus. Therefore, in that respect, Kenya is at the benchmark of our own benchmark of inflation because it has been contained, especially because of the tools that we used in the year 2023.

When we first went through this kind of a process, especially in the First Supplementary Estimates, our currency was exchanging to the greenback at around Ksh180 to US$1. Since then, our local currency has gained 15 per cent against the US Dollar. It has gained between 17 and 18 per cent comparative to our regional currencies. It has also gained against the Sterling Pound and Euro. This show that the policies we made a year ago are working. In the year 2023, our financial organs and structures worked on several parameters for us to stabilise our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), grow at 5.6 per cent and have an inflation that is within the benchmark as a country. For us to have a local currency that is gaining, we used both monetary and fiscal tools.

Our interest rates have been going up many times, which is deliberate by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). We needed to tame inflation and monetary tool to raise the benchmark interest rate. The same tool has been successful in preventing capital outflows. When you raise interest rates and you are at par or higher than other global partners, then you prevent capital outflows and, at the same time, attract capital inflows. Therefore, the issue about interest rates has been deliberate in so far as containing inflation and making our currency stronger are concerned. The tool that has been very successful is the fiscal policies which we have employed around production.

Our country perpetually spends a lot of money in importing food. In that respect, our number two import as a country is edible oils. Kenya spends over Ksh100-150 billion every year in the importation of edible oils. The issue is not about them but on foodstuffs. A year ago, we came before this House and requested that we appropriate money that would go into fertiliser subsidy. I can report to this House that, that fiscal policy has worked. After we gave out subsidised fertiliser, our maize production, which is our mainstay and staple food, has moved in the year 2023 from an average of 14 million bags every year to the last season which we had a yield of 65 million bags. This shows that what we do here in such an afternoon can have far-reaching effects even on the plates of Kenyans.

When we grow food and not import, we do import substitution. It is one of the issues that you can invoke when you want to improve your balance of payment. Therefore, I commend this House again for always passing very responsive laws and policies which we can clearly now see the results. Our GDP is high. Our inflation is contained. Our local currency is gaining ground against the international and regional currencies. I want the Members to get the figure of the current

Budget of the Financial Year 2024/2025 correctly because it is changing slightly from what we passed in the Budget Policy Statement (BPS).

Hon. Deputy Speaker, during the time and cycle of the BPS, this House passed a figure of Ksh4.18 trillion to be our ceiling. Because we are a prudent Government and House, we have seen that there has been a mismatch between the money that we anticipate to raise from revenue and our expenditure. Therefore, we have responded to exactly that. We have scaled down our expenditure from Ksh1.18 trillion to this Budget figure which is Ksh4.006 trillion. Therefore, the budget for this Financial Year is Ksh4.006 trillion. That is also a climb upwards from the tabled estimates by the National Treasury because we had to respond to other emerging issues which I will enumerate in brief as I continue.

How will we expend this money? Around Ksh2.39 trillion, which is roughly Ksh2.4 trillion, will go to the expenditure of the national Government which includes the Judiciary and Parliament. On top of that, this country will spend over Ksh1.233 trillion in Consolidated Fund Services (CFS). Over Ksh1.08 trillion will pay interest rates for our financial obligations. Therefore, I am talking about these things because they have a ramification on a Member who wants a water or roads project. Getting a full picture is important, so that we can also consider where our country is. I want to buttress the point that the Budget is Ksh4.006 trillion. The national Government expenditure is Ksh2.39 trillion ,which is approximately Ksh2.4 trillion.

The money going to Consolidated Fund Services is over Ksh1.233 trillion, out of which over Ksh1 trillion is going to payments of interest rates for both domestic and foreign financial obligations. The only sunshine in that is that over Ksh750 billion will go into paying interest rates for domestic debts. Therefore, this money could end up in the pockets of Kenyans. The other item is the equitable share. It currently stands at Ksh400.1 billion, which is also an upward trajectory because this House supports devolution.

I want to highlight a few areas. One is that we have climbed down on the deficit. The deficit for this financial year is roughly Ksh606 billion. If you check a year ago, this House was considering a deficit of close to Ksh800 billion. We have come down on deficit from 2023-2024. Our deficit is now 5.83 per cent. Our deficit to GDP ratio is only 3.83 per cent, which is commendable. It shows that we are borrowing less because we, as a country, want to emancipate ourselves from over-borrowing.

I want to highlight a few other things that are of interest to the people of Kenyan. One is that the education sector continues to get the lion’s share of the money we appropriate. The proposal before this House recommends approximately Ksh700 billion to go into the education sector in the Republic of Kenya. There is money for basic education, higher education and practical education like Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutes and Technical Training Institutes (TTIs). There is money for the Kenya Medical Training Colleges (KMTCs) even though it is in the health sector. Just to highlight some of the issues, the Members raised concerns about the estimates tabled by the National Treasury about the element of school feeding programme. The Budget and Appropriations Committee listened. I can report to this House that we have already provisioned Ksh3.5 billion for the school feeding programme. There are many children in Kenya who cannot access basic education, devoid of food. The Budget and Appropriations Committee responded to that. We have appropriated roughly Ksh3.5 billion into this programme.

On top of the estimates that were tabled by the National Treasury, this Committee, while representing this House and in consultation with Hon. Julius Melly, who is the Chairman of the

Departmental Committee on Education, I can assure this House that there are sufficient resources to confirm the Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms.

continue to be channelled through that committee and under the patronage of Members of Parliament in our respective constituencies.

On the same, we have what we call partner-funded development. It is around Ksh60 billion or thereabout. In a nutshell, there is a global figure. Yes, we have climbed down on the budget for roads. However, we are channelling what is there into completing stalled and ongoing roads projects first so that we are prudent enough. The utility of a project is derived when the project is complete. There is no value for money when it is not complete. There is no utility derived by Kenyans. That is the wisdom in completing ongoing projects first before we start new ones.

There is something for access to justice and our Judiciary. We have added more money to our Judiciary. For the first time the Judiciary, that is overseen by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee that Hon. George Murugara leads, will be getting Ksh24.6 billion. It is a step forward because we want to support all the arms of the Government. That is how a modern State is shaped.

For the first time, this Budget is breaking many records. In the morning, we debated the mediated version of the Division of Revenue Bill. Looking around, we have prospective governors here. Therefore, to make their work easier and to guarantee efficient access to the services that are offered by the county governments, we have increased the equitable share from Ksh385 billion to Ksh400.1 billion in the current considerations. This equates to better services in the county governments.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, we are also appropriating over Ksh10 billion to the Equalization Fund. This will ensure that development across the country is uniform. All parts of the country matter and this House should support this, for us to enjoy the cake together.

The previous amount on the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG- CDF) was Ksh53 billion. The proposal before this House is to increase it to Ksh62.9 billion. Based on the current formula, each constituency will get between Ksh175 million to Ksh250 million. Our women leaders and representatives are doing a great job. I commend their Chairperson, Hon. Jane Kagiri, who has been fighting for the rights of the 47 women representatives in this House and the people they represent. I have to admit that this House has intelligent women leaders who are shaping the discourse here, in our constituencies and our counties. Therefore, there is a proposal to add an extra Ksh500 million to the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF). This is an addition.

Furthermore, electricity connectivity in Kenya is not only a social investment, but also crucial for our environment, industrialisation and economic growth. As I said during the Budget Policy Statement (BPS), on top of the budget given to the energy sector, there is an extra…

I commend the Departmental Committee on Energy led by Hon. Kawaya for doing a thorough job. We propose an additional Ksh14.5 billion to be shared equally among the 290 constituencies. Each constituency will get Ksh50 million for electricity connectivity. Even constituencies with high power connectivity, such as those in Nairobi, face challenges with street lighting. Therefore, in the narrative of this Vote, we are categorical that these funds are for electrification and other interventions, which may include street lighting. If a constituency already has sufficient power connectivity, the Ksh50 million will be used for street lighting.

It is important to remember that the term "Parliament" does not just refer to Members of Parliament. We often think that the only individuals in Parliament are the elected representatives. However, even the presentation I am doing today is a concerted effort from the Clerk of the National Assembly, Bwana Njoroge, the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) led by Dr Masinde, and other incredible officers like Dr Abel, Madam Julie, Bwana Dan Kachumbo and many more.

I have only mentioned a few to represent the other people who work in Parliament. They may not be elected members, but they are committed to serving the people of Kenya.

Members of Parliament also have constituency offices where the people who work under us to ensure we efficiently discharge our mandate to the people of Kenya are domiciled. Let us be fair to these officers through this budget. The staff of Parliament, from the Serjeant-at-Arms to the Clerk, have not had any salary increase since 2016. This includes the staff in constituency offices and those who assist people with bursary forms. They have not had a salary increment like any other civil servants. We are proposing resources for an additional 10 per cent salary increment for all Parliament staff, including permanent employees and those in our constituency offices.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, this is a Budget where the Kenyan people and our economy are winning immensely. It also responds to social investments like education, healthcare and others. This Budget aims not just to bake the cake, but also to share the cake with the people of Kenya; those who take part and those who do not. We have incorporated money transfers to the elderly in social welfare. This includes those who registered recently. The proposal is that the elderly citizens and our parents should not continue to receive this money through bank accounts, but through M- Pesa and all the other platforms.

I thank all Members, particularly the Budget and Appropriations Committee, the Vice- Chairperson, Hon. Mary Emaase, and all the Members. I also thank the departmental committee chairpersons again, the leaders in this House, Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah and Hon. Opiyo Wandayi, who represented both sides of the House. This has been a very corroborative process. This Budget will better our economy.

We work closely together with the departmental committees and therefore, I request one of the chairpersons, Hon. (Dr) John Mutunga, to second this Motion.

Hon. (Dr) John Mutunga.

Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to second the adoption of the Budget and Appropriation

Committee Report on the budget highlights for the 2024/2025 Financial Year.

The Budget has been made to respond to the needs of Kenya as an economy, the needs of the people of this country, the development needs of the people of Kenya, and also respond to cutting down on imports, especially in the agricultural sector, where the Chairman has eloquently said that we are moving towards import substitution. The idea of ensuring we produce our own food is one way of curbing importation.

On the other hand, regarding the import substitution, especially of edible oils, I am aware that the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development is in the process of ensuring that we can produce edible oils in the country and stop spending over Ksh150 billion every year to support the importation of edible oils.

The notable macro-economic parameters that the Hon. Chairman has presented in this House, including and not limited to the strengthening of the Shilling, the lowered inflation rate, the steady growth rate, and also the fiscal consolidation that has led to a significant reduction by 2 per cent of the deficit, are a clear indication that this country is moving in the right direction and the economy is growing. The Kenya Kwanza Government sat down and made very clear policy proposals that are leading us in the right direction. The Budget that we have had this afternoon touches on different sectors.

Education is key in this country. Uneducated or ignorant people cannot lead or grow a nation. Kenya, as a country, is known for having the best-educated people in Africa. This Budget reflects that spirit. The allocation of over Ksh700 billion to the Kenyan education system attests to the fact that we want our children educated and to continue reducing the cost of education so that most Kenyans can access it. We have also seen budgetary allocations to other sectors, but I do not need to highlight every sector.

I would like to conclude by saying that this Budget is finely balanced. Notably, this is one of the processes that is not heavily contested between the Majority and the Minority parties. It is one of the processes through which the spirit of this House is felt, and the spirit of this House as a Parliament is exhibited. We would like to see more of this agreement and concession in lawmaking so that we may move forward and do a better job as people and leaders of this country than we have done in the budget process.

We are looking forward to having the Appropriation Bill and the Finance Bill. I look forward to the same spirit that we have today of people who are happy to make budget proposals. I also look at the possibility of raising money to finance it so that we do not have glaring disagreements between ourselves and our friends on the other side.

Many sectors have been looked into and supported. We are looking forward to a year that will be activity-filled, cause more reduction in borrowing, and lead to more sought-after development.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, with those few remarks, I second the adoption of the Report by the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee.

I thank you.

Before I entertain your point of order, I would like to recognise the following schools: Kabare Girls High School, Gichugu Constituency, Kirinyaga County. I also wish to recognise, seated in the Public Gallery, Musuvo Mixed Secondary School from Mwingi Central Constituency, Kitui County.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I welcome all the students and schools that are visiting us here in Parliament today. I encourage all the students here to work hard, succeed in their education and careers, and aspire one day to be Members of Parliament and senior public servants.

Let them travel back home safely and pass our regards to your parents. Karibu sana, and God bless you. Ahsante.

On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

I will let you have your point of order, but I hope it is relevant because if it is not, I will have you sit down. Okay, what is your point of order?

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I also thank the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee…

What is your point of order?

The document we have reflects Ksh306 billion but not Ksh2.3 trillion. We want to know where the document is; the one which was printed is Ksh306 billion.

Sorry, just repeat.

The document that we have is for Ksh306 billion, not Khs2.3 trillion. So, we need to contribute to a document that reflects the figures that the Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairman mentioned.

Which document are you referring to?

It is on the Report on the Consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Financial Year 2024/2025 and the Medium Term. If you look at the total, it is Ksh306 billion, as indicated on the last page.

Hon. Chairperson, you can respond since I do not have that particular document.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, this document contains many figures. I will sit down with my brother to go through it. The data and information are correct. However, it needs to be read alongside all the others. But I will guide him.

On a point of information, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

Hon. Wamuchomba, what is your point of information?

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I rise on a point of information to ask for clarification from the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. I refer to the Constitution of Kenya, Article 221….

Whom do you wish to inform? The Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee?

Yes, the Chairman, so that he can respond to the House. Article 221 of the Kenyan Constitution says: "At least two months before the end of each financial year, the Cabinet Secretary responsible for finance shall submit to the National Assembly estimates of revenue and expenditure of the national Government for the next financial year to be tabled in the National Assembly."

In my understanding, a budget includes both revenue estimates and expenditure estimates. The Chairman of this Committee has been exposing the expenditures to the House. I want him to clarify whether the revenue estimates have been tabled and whether they include the many loans that the Government of Kenya is struggling to pay.

Thank you.

Hon. Wamuchomba, if you recall - and I think it was on 30th April

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker….

For the information of Members, in this type of debate, the Chairpersons would have priority. I will give a chance to maybe four Chairpersons, then other Members, and so on, so that everybody gets an opportunity. I persuade you, the Chairpersons, that even though you have 15 minutes, in consideration of your other colleagues, please make it brief so that many Members can have an opportunity. This is one of the most important tasks that Parliament undertakes, and it is a mission-critical process. We should allow more Members to participate.

Thank you.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I support the consideration of the Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2024/2025.

First, I thank my Committee for spending time with the Ministry of Health, both the State Department for Medical Services and the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards and its Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs) . I also thank the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Committee Members for allowing us to sit and present the various committees' budgets. More specifically, for allowing me to present the budget for the Ministry of Health, that is, Budget lines 1082 and 1083.

We passed some laws this year in the health sector. Among them are the Digital Health Law, the Social Health Insurance Law, the Primary Health Care Law, and the Facilities Improvement Financing Law. Under the Social Health Insurance Law, this budget provides Ksh1.5 billion for emergency, chronic and critical illnesses. We have also provided Ksh4 billion for the Primary Health Care Fund. This means that our Universal Health Care is now ready to roll out. This is because the other contributions of the Social Health Insurance Authority will be from members and the public. I, therefore, reassure Kenyans that this Budget will ensure that we operationalise both emergency, chronic, and critical illnesses, with Ksh1 billion, and Primary Health Care, with Ksh4 billion. We have also provided Ksh2 billion for the Linda Mama Programme. This will ensure that when our women deliver, they are cared for as we transition to a more comprehensive Universal Health Care.

Under this Budget, we have ensured that the National Cancer Institute can be operationalised. One of the biggest challenges in this country has been addressing issues of cancer. We provided Ksh100 million to operationalise the National Cancer Institute. We have also provided Ksh80 million to the National Cancer Institute to ensure the established Regional Cancer Institute Centres are functional. We have regional cancer centres in Mombasa, Garissa, Nakuru, and Kisii, which are being constructed and will soon be operational. This will address cancer matters within our country, including the Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital.

We have also provided Kenyatta National Hospital with Ksh450 million in this Budget to enable them to buy another cancer machine: the Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machine for radiotherapy. With only one functioning machine at Kenyatta National Hospital, we have many patients who are waiting, and the machine works non-stop. Patients are being put on radiotherapy day and night for 24 hours. Too many patients are on the waiting list, and this is very pathetic and discouraging for many patients who depend on Government facilities for treatment. By Parliament providing Ksh450 million to Kenyatta National Hospital to buy another LINAC machine in this Financial Year, we hope that the hospital will reduce the waiting time for patients who are awaiting radiotherapy at the hospital.

We have also ensured that the 23 Kenya Medical Training Institutes (KMTCs) that the Hon. Members have set up will be operational. This is done by equipping them, employing more staff, and completing the construction.

This Budget has had challenges due to the budget ceilings. We had to reduce the funding for all ministries by nearly 30 per cent. The ministries should not worry. If the Government is able to meet its revenue collection target, we will have a supplementary budget to address the various gaps and challenges they may face in the course of the financial year.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. With those few remarks, I support.

Hon. David Kangogo, Member for Marakwet East. He is busy and not ready. Hon. Tongoyo.

No! Your time passed. Proceed, Hon. Tongoyo.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for allowing me to support the Budget Estimates. I also want to thank the Chairperson and Members of the Budget and Appropriations Committee for a well-done job of coming up with a very moderate Budget.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I carefully listened to the Chairperson, and it was encouraging to note that the Budget has lived up to the promise that was made by the Kenya Kwanza Government to Kenyans. More importantly, I want to appreciate that the Budget has continued to emphasize sectors that are crucial and important to Kenyans. A lot of emphasis has been put on the agriculture sector to ensure that Kenyans continue to be hunger-free. This is something that is notable and that should be appreciated.

It is also good to note that the budget has considered the pastoralist community, especially on the issue of restocking. This is the first time we are seeing a positive look into the real issues that are affecting the Kenyan pastoralists.

There is an enhancement in the security sector, which is crucial to this country, especially when we are handling and tackling the insecurity and cattle rustling in the North Rift and bandits

in North Eastern. The Budget has taken this into consideration. We want to assure Kenyans that with an enhanced budget and provision of equipment to our National Police Service (NPS) and security organs, Kenya will remain secure. A huge budget has gone into the modernisation programme to enhance security operations.

The Government Printer is a crucial institution that prints many crucial documents in this country, namely, the Bills that we debate in this house, logbooks, and title deeds. Yet, this institution continues to be in a depleted state. My Committee, together with the Budget and Appropriations Committee, has enhanced its budget. This will go a long way in ensuring that, that important institution gets back on its feet.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, there is the National Police Referral Hospital along Mbagathi Way. It was ready about three or four years ago and is well-equipped. However, our security agents and police officers are not using it. A substantial amount has been allocated to it in the Budget. This will go a long way in helping our police officers get the much-needed health services.

It is very encouraging to note the consideration that is given to electricity in the Budget. I am sure Kenyans will enjoy the connectivity, which has been halted for some time now. Lastly, I want to appreciate that the Budget mirrors the promises that have been made by the Kenya Kwanza leadership. This is especially true when the country is in a tight state and has adopted austerity measures like reducing foreign trips to save money to help Kenyans. I join my colleagues in appreciating the Committee for its commendable job. I am sure Kenyans are going to enjoy the fruits.

I submit, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

Hon. Johanna Ng'eno, Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for allowing me to contribute to this Motion. I wish to clearly state that I support it. I know very well that these Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2024/2025 are geared towards stimulating the economy of this country. Also, to implement the projects that the Kenya Kwanza Government promised the people of this nation.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I want to thank the Chairperson for a great presentation and for the serious balance he made in distributing funds to several ministries and departments. I must congratulate him for considering areas with serious challenges, like the roads sector. This year, rains have ravaged our country, and roads that were properly done are currently impassable and have to be tarmacked afresh.

I wished to see a continuation of what we used to call low-volume roads that were initiated by the previous regime. They have made a serious impact in the areas where we come from, but most of them have been destroyed by the rains. If only those roads were repaired and extended from 10 km per constituency to 20 km. Of course, we understand the constraints in the Budget.

I want to thank the Committee for considering electricity connectivity. I wish they had allocated more funds. In the future, they should ensure that the Last Mile Connectivity, which was initiated by the previous regime, continues so that people can access electricity, which has become a basic need for our people. Nowadays, most activities cannot be done without electricity. If possible, every village and household should be connected to electricity. This will grant access to many development activities.

I also want to thank the Chairperson and Committee for considering the education sector. Going forward, I request that they consider allocating more money to support the school feeding program not only in primary schools, but also in day secondary schools. We ask the Committee

and the Hon. Chairperson that, as much as we have allocated some money for capitation in both primary and secondary education, we consider allocating money for school feeding programmes in both primary and day secondary education in the future. The introduction of free secondary education was a great relief to most of the parents. It has gone a long way to ensure that students do not miss education because of the cost. When free primary education was introduced in this country, many children from poor backgrounds had access to education. We have sent many students to universities, colleges and abroad who are products of those day secondary schools, and we would have wished for an extension.

Most students are sent home because of school fees and yet, day schools are free. The major problem affecting the students is the feeding programme. They are being sent home to bring fees to pay for food. It would have been prudent if the Committee and the Hon. Chairperson had considered adding Ksh3,000 or Ksh5,000 on top of capitation for feeding day secondary school students. Thus, we will not have the day secondary school students coming home. They will take lunch in school because some money will be allocated to the school feeding programme.

I have seen a very good allocation towards security. We hope that the concerned department and ministry will ensure proper security in this country.

In my area, which is housing…

These Budget estimates will help make the promises that we made to the people of this country a reality. We hope that it will be implemented properly.

The last part is about water, one of the most fundamental factors in our lives. The rains have ravaged the country but, if you were to ask most of us in this House, no water was stored. There were neither dams nor proper storage and so, the rain went to waste. I hope this Budget and its implementers will ensure that if there are heavy rains - like the ones we have experienced in the last few months - water does not go to waste but will be stored for future use.

I support these proposed estimates.

Hon. Member for Malava, Hon. Moses Injendi.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I thank the Chairperson and Budget and Appropriations Committee Members for a well- done job. I appreciate this Committee as a Vice-Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education. All our proposals to the Budget and Appropriations Committee were incorporated to the advantage of the education sector. I appreciate that the Government is taking the education sector seriously. The education sector has taken a considerable part, which is 24 per cent of the total Budget. The Departmental Committee on Education has critical areas that we have prioritised in terms of the Budget. They include the provision of resources to provide free primary and secondary education as well as Junior Secondary School (JSS) education, and school infrastructure improvement to support CBC. It also includes funding to various universities, resources to support students in both universities, and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions; expansion of the infrastructure of TVET institutions and universities; and the recruitment of teachers and TVET instructors. The education sector budget, which accounts for Ksh35.5 billion, aligns well with the Government's bottom-up economic transformation agenda. The priorities in this particular area are the construction of 52 TTIs, integrated resource centres, Junior Secondary School classrooms, and Junior Secondary School learners' capitation, which was an issue in the previous Financial Year.

The Education Committee noted some key areas that require concrete policy direction for future funding and a proper and seamless flow of activities in the education sector.

As reported, there was a hue and cry on the Teacher Service Commission about the Junior Secondary School interns. I want to report that we proposed to the Budget and Appropriations Committee that all 46,000 interns be converted into permanent and pensionable employees. This has been taken care of. However, we have allocated another 20…

We have also proposed allocating Ksh4.7 billion to continue having interns in the country to bridge the gap of teachers in Junior Secondary Schools. In this coming Financial Year, we will recruit about 20,000 interns. That is our proposal, and it is in line with bridging the gap in teaching.

It was interesting that there were demonstrations. The demonstrations were on because of incitement from left, right and centre. The Education Committee has already taken care of that fact. All those who will be taken on internship should not go to the streets to make any noise because they are now provided for. When you are an intern, you will be converted into a permanent pensionable employee after a particular period. The only thing that we will request the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to do is to ensure that there is a legal framework for the internship program in our schools and a determination on whether it will take one year or two years before absorption.

I want to thank the Budget and Appropriations Committee for giving in to our request of Ksh1 billion for the promotion of teachers. You will recall that during this Financial Year, there were promotions for teachers. However, most teachers who were supposed to be promoted were

not promoted because of budget constraints. So, in the next Financial Year, Ksh1 billion will be spent on those teachers who were not promoted. We must note that most of the teachers stagnate in one job group for over 15 years. We need a policy on promotions so that they are not held back because of funding, as it is currently happening.

On TVET, we are aware as Members of Parliament that each constituent must have a TVET. Through our proposal, the Budget and Appropriations Committee has allocated some good money to ensure that all constituencies have a TVET. However, as a Committee, we note that there have been some delays in the implementation of those projects. For example, in this Financial Year, we have about 14 TTIs that have not been implemented because of delays in tendering processes in our Government systems. That will require the attention of the Ministry to fast-track the projects.

There is also an allocation of some good money, Ksh2.7 billion, for infrastructure in our Junior Secondary Schools. Members should note that this money will come through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) offices. The only thing that has to be done is to ensure proper collaboration between the Department of Planning and Basic Education and NG-CDF boards to ensure seamless implementation of that project in our schools. As much as we have begun this particular process, we have not received money. For example, we have not received money for the last Financial Year. Money has not hit the NG-CDF accounts to commence the process of construction of infrastructure in our schools.

As a Committee, we were surprised by the Treasury estimates that struck off the feeding programme in our schools. We pushed for it, and I want to thank the Budget and Appropriations Committee for taking our advice and restoring it to the estimates as per our proposal.

As the Education Committee, we want to assure Kenyans and Members that we are keen on what is happening in the country in terms of our education standards. Considering that most parents have taken their children to school, we want to assure the country that we will continue to fight and ensure that all is well in our education sector - despite a few hitches here and there - as we move on with the new funding model up to the university level. Otherwise, I support.

Thank you.

The Member for Marakwet East.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for allowing me to support the Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2024/2025. I do not want to say a lot because many of my colleagues, including the Chair of Budget and Appropriation Committee… When the Chair was moving, he spoke a lot about issues that cut across different sectors and the importance of this Budget.

I want to say a few things. One, I am happy that there is some little increment, especially in capitation, through the Ministry of Education. Even as we support the allocation to the Ministry of Education, the Government needs to look into the capitation formula. We have seen that the current formula does not favour many students, and many of them have dropped out of school.

Two, the allocation they have given to water, especially for the mitigation of floods, is very important. Over the last few months, we have seen floods across the country. Many people have lost their lives, our roads were destroyed, and the water infrastructure across the country was destroyed. The allocation given is going to help mitigate the effects of the floods.

If you look at the allocation that is given to floods control, it is very little. We are talking about the same problem in the country. Floods killed people in Budalangi, Nyanza, Northern and the Coast Province. The allocation of less than Ksh1 billion is very little. We will continue losing

our people and infrastructure if we do not allocate enough resources. However, given that what we have as a country as our revenue cannot sustain that, we will go as per what we have now.

I am happy that the Teachers Service Commission has been allocated money through the Ministry of Education to employ the JSS teachers permanently.

For our doctors who have been demonstrating in the streets for quite a number of months, I am happy that the Government has now been sensitive to making sure that the interns will be absorbed permanently, like the JSS teachers.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, going forward, there is need to increase the allocation for digitisation in this country. We need to invest in technology if we want to progress. Many countries are moving to AI technology. We are talking about e-learning, but if you go to many rural schools, there are no computers, power or internet. How will the students in those areas benefit from e-learning if they lack the infrastructure? I am happy that through the Ministry of Energy, they have allocated Ksh50 million to every constituency for rural electrification. That will benefit our schools, local hospitals and communities. I support the Report of the Committee. This House, and especially the Departmental and Oversight Committee Chairpersons like the Public Accounts Committee, together with the Auditor-General Reports, must be taken seriously so that the little resources we have allocated in this country are utilised properly. I heard Hon. Mbadi talking about Article 223. It is so general. This House needs to look at Article 223 to ensure it is not abused. Every other time, the Government withdraws money under Article 223 without the approval of Parliament.

With those many remarks, I support.

Hon. Member for Gatanga, I can see that you have an amendment Motion. I will allow you to prosecute it now. The amendment has already been circulated. You may proceed, Hon. Muriu. I hope it will not take too long.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I beg to move the following Motion:

THAT, the Motion for the Consideration of the Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2024/2025 be amended by inserting the following words immediately after the words “Second Schedule to the Order Paper” appearing in paragraph (ii) — “Subject to the insertion of the following policy resolution— Education THAT, beginning Financial Year 2024/25, the School Feeding Programme currently being undertaken by the National Government covers learners in all public basic education institutions”. The amendment is not only constitutional but moral. First and foremost, I thank the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning and the Budget and Appropriations Committee for making a very elaborate budget proposal and for carrying out elaborate public participation, which has resulted in a Budget Estimate of Ksh2.9 trillion. I also wish to thank the National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK) ; which is the institution that is managing the school feeding programme in ASAL. They have been doing an exemplary job.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, two wrongs cannot make one right. On 11th October 2023, this Parliament passed a Resolution that the school feeding programme needs to be implemented in all our primary and JSS to ensure that there is quality. That is already on record in this Parliament. It is high time that we implement that Resolution. Article 53(1) (b) of the Constitution provides that every child is entitled to free and compulsory education. Article 53(1)(c) provides that every child in this country is entitled to basic nutrition, shelter and health. Article 27 (4) provides that there shall never be any discrimination against any citizen of this Republic by virtue of their race, religion, age or the region where they come from. The point here is simple. NACONEK has been focusing on the nomadic areas, which is very good. However, the Constitution provides that all children in Kenya are equal before God.

Secondly, if we can provide the school feeding programme in all our schools, we will start getting a return on investment, which the current Budget provides for Ksh700 billion. But because there is no school feeding programme, you will find many school dropouts and poor performance. In Gatanga Constituency, the conversion rate is below 12 per cent. The intervention of food is key, particularly for young learners. If the children in Kasipul Kabondo can get a meal during lunch, their performance, efficiency and retention will be better. It will be similar to the children in Dadaab Constituency. The meal they get every day is what takes them to school. If the children in Mwingi West and Mwingi North are provided a meal, they will attend school.

We want the school feeding programme to cover the entire country because, if it moves as it is, there is no policy statement in the Budget Estimates. If it is only implemented in the ASAL region, eventually, one will go to court and declare the whole provision of the school feeding programme unconstitutional because it has failed to deliver on Articles 53 and 27 of the Constitution.

In history, President Moi provided milk not only in the Rift Valley, North Eastern, or Turkana, but also for all the children of this country. He did that because he knew well that children below 14 require a lot of food to grow their minds and learn properly. Using the same analogy, let us learn from history that all children in this country are equal under the Constitution. Therefore, the good work that NACONEK is carrying out should be propagated to other parts of the country. This will ensure all our children in primary schools have a meal, improving retention, efficiency, good performance and increased enrolment. I propose that we need NACONEK to continue managing it. We do not want that money to be put in the bottomless pit of the Ministry of Health. We want NACONEK to continue spreading the spirit of goodness by giving our children food in North Eastern and all parts of the country.

I know the budget is a challenge, but I appeal to Members of Parliament. Everything starts with a framework. We want to create a framework where ASAL children and all the children of the Republic of Kenya get the school feeding programme because that is what the Constitution provides. Therefore, I propose that in the Budget for Financial Year 2024/2025, we bring an amendment in the education sector so that the school-feeding programme, currently undertaken by the national Government, covers all learners in public basic education schools, that is, Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE), primary and junior secondary schools.

I move the amendment and request the Member for Kajiado North, Hon. Ngogoyo, to second it. Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

Hon. Onesmus Ngogoyo (Kajiado North, UDA) Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to second the amendment by the Member for Gatanga, Hon. Muriu. The height of unfairness in the distribution of money that is set aside for the school-feeding programme has come to our attention. I come from Kajiado, an Arid and Semi-arid Land (ASAL) county. My constituency and others do

not receive money for the school-feeding programme. During the last drought that Kajiado faced, we had the worst drop-out rate among school-going children. When we are doing capitation, we do it per child in a school. We should endeavour to keep the child in school. Among other counties, Nairobi City and Taita Taveta were affected greatly by the last drought - specifically Taita Taveta.

In Nairobi City County, you have what we call urban poverty - children who do not get a meal and are supposed to go to school. Resources are set aside to meet the specific needs of the people. If you want to keep a child in school, let us keep children who deserve to be in school. I single out Narok and Kajiado counties, where the school-feeding programme does not exist. Going by what we have, we would not have achieved the intention of keeping children in school.

I, therefore, second the Motion and urge this honourable House to be fair to all children who are going to school. Let us keep them in school by providing them with a meal. We have three institutions, one is called Life International, that feed children in schools. About four schools have been picked. The school turnout has become excellent, almost to the tune of 98 percent in an urban centre. This is the only way to achieve fairness in the school-feeding programme.

With those very many remarks, I second the amendment.

Can you allow me to propose the question first?

On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

What is your point of order, Hon. Naisula?

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise on a point of order under Standing Order 114 and Article 114 of the Constitution. I must say at the onset that my friend, Hon. Muriu, has an excellent vision - that all our school-going children are fed in school. The challenges faced by a child in Samburu are the same as those faced by children in Gatanga. However, I must bring to your attention that listening to his Motion, it touches on money matters.

Article 114 of the Constitution says that if, in the opinion of the Speaker of the National Assembly, a Motion makes provision for a matter listed in the definition of a money Bill, the Assembly may proceed only in accordance with the recommendations of the relevant Committee, which in this case is the Budget and Appropriations Committee, after taking into account the views of the Cabinet Secretary responsible for finance. So, the Motion would need the concurrence of the National Treasury.

The view and spirit of the amendment is perfect. I support it, but it has come a bit too late. We should have brought it up when the Budget and Appropriations Committee was looking at all the recommendations of the committees and during the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) . Then, we would have appropriated the funds. Even the Ksh3 billion that we have been fighting for, for ASAL regions, was not there. We have had to fight for it. Now, if we say that we divide the Ksh3 billion into small pieces to get to our children, it is not possible. In the next BPS cycle, he can bring the amendment. I can assure you, Hon. Muriu, I will support it. It has come in a bit too late now.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I hope you find this to be a money amendment and decline to propose the question of my very good friend, Hon. Muriu's amendment.

Hon. Farah Maalim was first.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I also join my sister from Samburu. At the outset, I have nothing against all Kenyan children being accorded a certain portion of a meal for them to go to school. I know there are pockets of poverty all over the country. These things have got to be done at the right time. Hon. Wakili Muriu is my colleague in the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. He should have thought about this earlier and brought that kind of amendment to the attention of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. The Constitution says that if, in the opinion of the Speaker of the National Assembly, a Motion makes provision for matters listed in the definition of a money Bill, anything that has a cost, the Assembly may only proceed in accordance with the recommendation of the relevant Committee of the National Assembly, after taking into account the views of the Cabinet Secretary responsible for finance. This thing is dead ab initio and cannot proceed. The same provision is there in Standing Order 114. Hon. Muriu, this is a good idea. Bring it next year, and we will see how to work on it. We will have sufficient funds for all the children of Kenya. In any case, it is unconstitutional for us now to begin considering this in the Budget.

Thank you.

I will give one Member an opportunity. I can see the Vice- Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. I know you are standing in for the Chairman. It is good to hear from the Committee.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. The amendment by my friend Hon. Muriu is a good one. All of us here have constituencies and schools. It would be in the interest of every Member that we have school-feeding programmes in all schools. However, the budget-making process starts much earlier. We are at the tail-end of the budget- making process. The BPS lays the direction and foundation upon which the figures are now set.

To respond to my friend, Hon. Muriu, Article 114 of the Constitution and Standing Order 114 require that a Motion of this nature must be presented first to the Budget and Appropriations Committee to undertake three things:

Hon. Members, let us not flog a dead horse. I will proceed this way

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute. He is disturbing me! Please protect me!

Okay. I do want you to re-prosecute the case.

I am not prosecuting it. I want to thank you.

You can just oblige that you accept the ruling.

Finally, the House needs to appreciate that it is only children who have left their mother's breast up to the age of about 12 or 13 years who are not given food. Children in secondary schools and universities are provided food by the Government. Therefore, it is a moral issue for us to ask ourselves whether we shall continue feeding adults or children?

I stand guided and thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

When some Members saw the amendment circulating, they asked me why I approved it because it was clearly contrary to the Constitution and Standing Orders. I told them I did not have the power to rule against the amendment from my desk. It has to make it to the House, be prosecuted, we hear responses and then make a ruling from the House.

Therefore, the Hon. Deputy Speaker has no power to make rulings from the Speaker's desk in the office upstairs. It can only be done from this Chair. That is the reason. Thank you. Let us proceed.

On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

What is your point of order?

We have already debated and the matter is closed. Are you raising this issue? I hope you are not prosecuting the same matter.

On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

Are you discussing the matter at all? Okay. Be seated. Let us move to the next person to debate the Motion.

On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

No. We are resuming debate. I will give an opportunity to the chairpersons of committees. Which chairpersons are here?

On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

This is not the first time you are being a nuisance in the House. You always demand that you must speak. Like I have told you, we have finished the issue of the amendment and we are now going back to the debate.

I am not letting him have an audience because he knows we are resuming debate.

I have a matter that is not connected at all to what you are talking about. You had said that this matter was a dead horse. This is a different issue.

Hon. Member, I am giving you the first warning. You cannot continue to speak when I have asked you to sit down. We are resuming debate. If you want to contribute to the Motion, please, press the card or stand up on a point of order and quote the Standing Order. It is as simple as that. What is your point of order, and the Standing Order number?

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg you to exercise fairness to me.

I am not being unfair. I have asked you to be procedural.

I am a representative of Nyando Constituency. I have to point out their interest in this House. That is why they brought me here.

Can you tell us the Standing Order upon which you are standing? What is your point of order?

That is what I am coming to. I need your direction on a matter. Whereas the flooding situation is over, the devastating effects are still with our people on the ground. Some people are still in evacuation camps.

Hon. Member, if you want to raise that issue, you can do it as a statement. You have an opportunity tomorrow in the morning during our Sitting. Please, let us proceed. If you continue to speak, I will take away your microphone. You are free to leave the House.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, you are harassing me!

I am not harassing you. You are being extremely disrespectful. I will not engage with you.

Are there any chairpersons of committees? Is the Vice-Chairman of the Departmental

Committee on Labour here? Hon. Kawanjiku, I know you are a member of the Budget and

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Before I contribute, I ask for your intervention on a matter. I am the Vice-Chairman of the Public Debt

and Privatisation Committee. As a Committee, we wrote a Report on the CFS Expenditure which is part of the Budget. We even tabled a Report.

At what point will that Report be debated because it is part of what we are discussing?

Since we are giving chairpersons an opportunity to contribute, I know you are not a chairperson of a departmental committee, but I will give you an opportunity. You can proceed and make your contribution.

Since I know what is in the Report, I can make my contribution. Let me start with that point as part of my contribution to the Budget Estimates.

Hon. Members, if you look at the Budget Estimates, the budgeted amount for CFS expenditures is Ksh1.88 trillion. That is the money we are supposed to spend to take care of expenditures relating to CFS. Out of that money, the country will spend about Ksh1.08 trillion to pay interest rates and an additional Ksh700 billion to pay debts which we have already taken. That is repayment of debts.

Hon. Makali, hold on for a moment. I have noted that many Members do not know that we have a Sitting tomorrow morning at 9.30 a.m. Therefore, I would like to inform the Members who were not in the House in the morning. It is mission-critical because we have to complete debate on the Budget Estimates tomorrow. We will also sit until 9.00 p.m. tonight.

Thank you, Hon. Members.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, what I was saying is that this information is very important in relation to what we are discussing. Why am I saying it is important? If we compare the projected revenue collection of about Ksh2.9 trillion to the money used for Consolidated Fund Services’ expenditure of Ksh1.88 trillion, about 70 per cent of revenue collected will go towards the payment of debts.

The other issue I want to comment on is the JSS intern teachers. It is good that we have allocated resources so that all 46,000 intern teachers are employed on permanent and pensionable terms. This is important because, as you are all aware, our JSS is facing serious teacher and infrastructure challenges. We are assisting the country when we allocate money to employ teachers on permanent and pensionable basis, because they will settle down to teach without any problem.

The other important matter is the resources that have been allocated to the intervention of floods. The Chairman mentioned that we have made provision in this Budget to take care of floods. This country has suffered serious consequences as a result of floods. Generally, the infrastructure that includes roads and classrooms have been destroyed. It is important that we have resources to repair some of them. Otherwise, the country would not move. For example, when roads are not properly done, you cannot move products to the market and yet, those are important economic activities.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, the issue of the Political Parties Fund is very important in this Budget. The Report indicates that political parties will get a total allocation of Ksh1.5 billion in the 2024/2025 Financial Year. It is also worth noting that we had allocated Ksh1.47 billion to that Fund this Financial Year. It was reduced to about Ksh600 million in the first Supplementary Estimates. That is a reduction of over Ksh800 million. My plea is that Supplementary Estimates do not reduce money allocated to political parties in the next financial year. At the end of the day, this is to ensure that we fund political parties as required in the Constitution. This is the only way we can grow our democracy.

The other matter I would like to raise is on Budget implementation. As a House, we have been going through the budget cycle every year. However, we need to ask ourselves how we have performed in the Budget implementation. It is not enough to just have the Budget in our books. Once the Budget is in the books, it is sufficient that it is implemented so that Kenyans can benefit from the services and goods in it. There is a serious challenge in budget implementation. Exchequer releases is the main cause because money is in the books, but it is not released to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Just as we did this morning and towards the end of each financial year, we reduce the figures downwards to be accommodated within the Budget. It because we have not managed to raise enough revenue to fund the Budget. This is why I agree with some Members that the National Treasury needs to be as realistic as possible when it is doing revenue projections. They need to critically look into the assumptions they make. This is because we seem to make assumptions for the sake of it, knowing very well that we may not implement them because we do not achieve the ambitious revenue projections. That is why I also support the idea of adding resources to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to facilitate it to collect all the taxes that are already approved by this House. In that case, we will fund our Budget.

Equity in the budget-making process is the other matter that is critical as we move into the future. There was the issue of the roads in the morning where the Leader of the Majority Party complained that the Member for Yatta raised a matter that was not true. The issue here is how equitable this Budget is to where we fund projects. As a House, we need to share this Budget equitably to ensure that all regions of the country are well represented. On that basis, we will help this country in matters Budget. Otherwise, I can tell you for sure that some parts of this country will remain marginalised until the second coming of Jesus Christ, if it is a matter of just passing the Budget for the sake of it without looking at equity. It is important that we look into equity.

As I conclude, we also need to look into issues of gender sensitivity in budget-making so that we do not make a Budget that is not gender neutral. As we make the budget, we need to ensure

that we also mainstream gender issues so that it takes care of both sexes and one gender does not benefit more than the other.

Hon. Members, we need to accommodate as many Members as possible. Although you are entitled to 10 minutes, you can take as little as three or five minutes. I am not telling you that you have to do that. You have the option to take all the 10 minutes. We can accommodate many Members in this very important debate on the Budget Estimates if we use a few minutes.

Hon. Dido Raso.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. From the onset, I stand to support these Budget Estimates. I congratulate the formidable Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Members. This is one of the Committees with the largest membership. The Budget that is within the Committee’s purview must be the best in equity, spread and coverage. They must be spot on in what they do.

I want to start with the issue of security. Security is the anchor around which a government or a state exists. It is that instrument that allows development within a country. In the absence of security, a lot of the good things we talk about will not be there. On this, I am talking about the National Police Service, the Kenya Defence Forces, the Correctional Service and the National Government Administration Officers in the field. Those people perform the best for us. For this House to be able to sit this afternoon and discuss the Budget is because the country is secure. For us to be on the roads, in schools and in many other places while doing development or chores in our homes, is because there is security. For that reason, we must continuously improve their working environment, welfare and motivate them so that they do the best in wherever they are working. We can do this through modernisation so that they have the best equipment to carry out their duties. In that regard, I am talking about mobility. There must be enough protective vehicles such as the Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) , firepower and force protection so that the individual that we send out in the field, that policeman who is chasing robbers down the alley, must be protected enough for him/her to feel secure.

It is paramount that we must continuously build the human capacity of all those institutions so that the best is out there to serve this country when we are doing other things. We must also invest in technology so that Kenyans can see that we are moving beyond the 21st Century because the world is about technology. It is through technology that we can use the economy of effort. This is where we can use a few policemen instead hundreds, a few boots on the ground of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) when we have one or two aircrafts or sophisticated equipment that reduces dependence on manpower.

Education is the single most equaliser. Hon. Muriu raised a very pertinent issue of the school feeding programme. If there is no feeding programme for learners from the Arid and Semi- arid Lands (ASALs) , the majority of them will not be able to attend school. It is a good thing to spread that across the country. But for us to share what is there, it simply means that we are going to disadvantage those who are already much disadvantaged because this is the basic thing they get when they go to school. As Members from the ASAL or the pastoralists, we are will not say that children in Murang’a or Gatanga are not qualified or entitled to this programme. We are, however, saying that we should let it come at the right time.

Regarding the issue of the National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK) , many Members before us fought to have it in place. As we sit here today, NACONEK is still not at the right place where we want it to be. This is because it is not well

funded and it is not well focused. There are also too many interests that are still pulling NACONEK down. It should have a council to focus on its activities.

I see continuity, collaboration and saving in this Budget. For the first time, our Budget has come down from Ksh3 or Ksh4 trillion, to just Ksh2.3 trillion. This is indicative that we should cut our cloth according to our size because we cannot spend money that we do not have. If we raise the budget ceiling to Ksh3 or Ksh4 Trillion, it means we are going to tax Kenyans to the bone. Kenyans are already talking about taxation.

For this particular instance, I want to thank the Government and the President for making sure that we do not spend or look for money that we do not have. On the same, it is indicative that we are going to spend our money and not borrow for the Budget. The problem is that today this country is heavily burdened. Most of our money goes to paying debts. How long are we going to pay debts and yet, we are growing our budget when the economy does not have the capacity to achieve it?

The idea of grassroots development and bottom-up economic development means that we are going to put more money in the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG- CDF), electricity, in rural infrastructure and in the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), thus looking at those areas and enclaves that are normally disadvantaged or not looked into. For that reason, as Members of this House and particularly as Members of single constituencies, the onus is on us for prudent use of those resources at the grassroots.

The elephant in the room is youth affairs and the creative economy. A country that has 60 to 70 per cent of its population as youth, we must look at it in an economic sense. What do we do with the youth? What number of resources should we allocate them? A good number of the youth are in education, but there is a majority that is not in education. There are those that are out there hustling. In this Budget, we are looking at youth empowerment and development services. In context and looking at what resources have been put there, we must scratch our heads and allocate more resources to the youth so that they are able to be productive. The 60 per cent of our population is not a joke.

Finally, I want to talk about the livestock economy. Livestock contributes 8 per cent to the GDP. Not much has been talked in regard to livestock and yet, two-thirds or three-quarters of this country is livestock-producing area.

With those remarks, I beg to support.

Hon. Catherine Omanyo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I am immensely impressed with the Budget because it has cut across every sector that touches Kenyans’ lives. Looking at various departments, I have seen devolved functions at the county level. If all that has been channelled there will work; every county will have or must have a running industry or factory. If we have that, the jobless youths that are 60 per cent of this nation will be doing something for their livelihood and that will improve the standards of living in this nation. Looking at the health, agriculture, markets, roads, electricity and education…

For example, if the markets are constructed in places where there is no electricity, then it should be complementary. When the markets are constructed, electricity must be installed, running water provided, as well as toilets. Most markets in rural areas suffer from lack of those basic needs. At 6.00 O’clock in the evening, everybody leaves or use either lamps or candles to continue selling their products.

On the agricultural side, this time they have thought well. I am hoping that we will have extension officers at the grassroots so that we do not have a problem like the one we have witnessed

this year. The issues of fake fertiliser and other miscalculated moves have never happened since Independence.

I have also looked at the roads. The Budget is good, but I hope that some Members of Parliament will not leave nothing for others when it comes to sharing. Let us not hear that some were allocated more roads than others. I hope equality and equity will be in play and Kenyans will continue growing together. If we only have cities or towns that attract and not the rural areas, then we will have other areas congested. Yet, we should be thinking of decongesting the cities or towns.

I congratulate the Budget and Appropriations Committee and every other person who participated, including wananchi themselves, because public participation was done. My prayer is every dime, every shilling that is given, may it do what it is supposed to do.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Umulkher Harun.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I would like to submit some of my comments towards the on-going debate on the Floor, which is the Budget Estimates for this Financial Year. I have been keen to see some areas that have been prioritised, which I highly support. I would like to also submit a few comments so that, maybe, we can also guide the Budget better before we pass this to be Executive.

The first issue of concern to me is immunization, which has a budget cut from Kshs9.4 to Kshs7.4 billion. This is a crucial matter to every Kenyan in this country. As a young mother, I took my child for vaccinations just last week. I had to visit three private clinics before I could get vaccines for my child who is just three months old. I could imagine what other mothers in rural and remote areas are facing because every Government facility must provide free vaccinations for every mother. This is a maternal care issue. If such a crucial department is considered to have a budget cut, then we are going against the fundamental issues of being humane and considerate to the people that we represent. That is of concern to me.

Second is on the Linda Mama Programme, which has also been supporting mothers across the country. It is also facing a budget cut. Anything to do with health, our children, the future of our children and vaccinations are critical issues that we cannot touch on. We are going 10 or 20 years back as a country, if we are not giving vaccinations to children. Polio has been a big campaign. Ever since I was born, I have been hearing of ‘Kick Polio Out of Kenya Campaign’ but children are not getting polio vaccines. I could not get rotavirus vaccine for my child and yet, I am privileged enough to access private health care. Those are mothers who cannot get that vaccine. This is not an issue that I can sit and watch. I have to address it. I would definitely count on the support of every Member, because this is a matter that touches on all of us.

As a youth representative in this House, the Youth Fund has also been removed. We are telling young Kenyans to come and get employment, finya computer programmes, but we are not allocating funds for them to get support. I understand this is something that we have to address. The Youth Fund must be supported so that young Kenyans can get more jobs and also continue supporting the gig and the creative economy.

Another issue is also on the internet taxes that we have seen. Every Kenyan is able to buy data from wherever they are. We have the Jitume Programme, which is something that even our committee — the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation — that I sit in, is campaigning big on. This is a presidential agenda that we want to support. But if the internet faces more taxation, Kenyans will not be able to even afford data so that they are able to get online jobs or the digital programmes, the gig economy, and all these things that we keep talking about. We have to put money where our mouth is.

Finally, there is Kshs85 billion reduction that we have been hearing, but where is this money being reduced from? It is being reduced from health, education and agriculture. These are critical areas that form the backbone of our country. If money has to be reduced, let it come from elsewhere. Let us save from elsewhere. Monies on education, health and environment should not be touched. We even need to put more money there, not remove it. These are my general comments. Of course, we will support it with amendments. Those are the pointers that I wanted to raise.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity.

Hon. Kawanjiku.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also take this opportunity to support the Budget and Appropriations Committee for doing a good job and, more so, the Chairman, Hon. Ndindi Nyoro. I am also a member of that Committee, and I know how tiresome it was to make sure that we aligned things as per the Constitution.

This is a good Budget because we looked at a number of issues that affect the people from different parts of our country. We tried as much as we could to balance and make sure that there is equity in terms of distribution of the national resources that we have as a country and as a Government. There were rumours that we had removed money from the school feeding programme for our primary and secondary day school students. We want to confirm to this House that we returned that money that is supposed to support our children, especially from the areas that are affected by drought. We retained that money. We are also pleading with this Committee and House to keep enhancing the budget for the school feeding programme.

I have tried it in my constituency using a different model, and it is really working. We are able to retain many children in school, especially in our public primary schools. We understand the poverty index in those areas and, therefore, it was prudent for us to make sure that we enhance that budget probably to a tune of about Kshs5 billion. As Hon. Muriu was suggesting, this will not only cover areas in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) , but all schools across our country. Therefore, in the next budget, I am going to be very keen to support and enhance it, and separate it from the ministry and take it to the department that is supposed to be doing that. We need to make sure that we appropriate enough money to the National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK) and make sure that they roll out this feeding programme to all day schools, as it will help us to retain our students in school.

The issue of pending bills has become a huge elephant in this country and Kenyans are suffering. They supply the national Government and county governments but, at the end of the day, they are not paid. It came out clearly that, as a House, we must do something regarding the issue of pending bills. This is because so many people are being auctioned day and night. Therefore, we appropriated Ksh20 billion to start paying off pending bills.

We should come up with a law and bring it to the Floor of the House that every ministry should give priority to paying pending bills. Kenyans have invested their money to do business with the Government. Some even borrow from banking institutions and shylocks to supply various items hoping that after a month, they will be paid and then they will pay the loans they took. They want to make Ksh200 or Ksh500 so as to provide food for their families. They are unable to pay those loans and whatever collateral they gave is taken away by the banks and shylocks. So, Kenyans are suffering because of pending bill.

We want to urge our governors because it is has become a tradition in this country, that any incoming governor does not pay the previous governor’s pending bills. We must come up with a law that will force all county governments to pay pending bills. Failure to do so, we will task the National Treasury to pay all pending bills which are over two years. Kenyans pay taxes and it is

quite unfortunate that they are unable to sustain their families and their properties are being auctioned because the national Government and county governments have refused to pay them. We saw it fit to appropriate Ksh20 billion to start paying pending bills to Kenyans.

We also set aside money for employment of JSS teachers. They have been doing an amazing work of supporting the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) in our schools. We want to support the President because he said that we must employ the 46,000 JSS teachers this Financial Year. We want to ensure that they are absorbed by the TSC before January 2025, so that they can continue to offer services to our children and take care of them. Those children are the leaders of tomorrow.

The NG-CDF has undertaken majority of the work in our public schools, security sector and infrastructure. I want to inform the House that this Financial Year, NG-CDF has been given an increment to the tune of Ksh200 million per constituency. This will go a long way in ensuring that we increase the bursary which our students get. Those in day and boarding schools, tertiary institutions and universities will benefit from the increased funding.

We have also been pushing the NG-CDF Committee to make it practical and possible for us to start school feeding programs in our constituencies. So, this money can be used to cater for that. It will also enable us to put up ICT hubs in every constituency and ward. So, we can employ many young people who are looking for jobs. The President has been insisting on the need to create jobs for the young people. The NG-CDF funds will cater for infrastructure development in our public schools. I represent Kiambaa Constituency in Kiambu County and I find one classroom having about 100 students. This money will go a long way in ensuring that we expand the school infrastructure, feeding program and pay bursaries. That way, we will retain quite a huge number of students in schools.

I want to congratulate the Budget and Appropriations Committee for considering the energy sector and appropriating Ksh14 billion to Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC). Each and every constituency will get Ksh50 million. The Last Mile Connectivity Programme has been funded so that more homes are connected to electricity. There is also funding for street lights for example, the people from my constituency work in Nairobi and come back home late. Also, the street lights will enable people to do business even late at night and this way, we will have a 24-hour economy. This money will go a long way in ensuring this is achieved.

We appropriated money to facilitate coffee reforms. Also, school capitation was considered. We want to plead with the Ministry of Education to ensure the amount meant for each and every student in public primary and secondary schools reach on time so that the teachers and principals can be able to plan for students without any hiccups. They usually wait for it only to realise it has been cut…

The Member for Kwanza followed by the Member for Ol Jorok.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker for giving me this opportunity. From the onset, I want to thank the Committee for coming up with these well-balanced Budget Estimates. I believe it is the work of the National Assembly to make the Budget. First and foremost, I heard good news that this country is the 37th fastest growing economy in the world. I cannot believe it but research was done. I can tell you this is very good.

Second and most importantly, is that at one time, the exchange rate of the Kenya shilling to the dollar was almost Ksh180. I checked this morning and it is now Ksh132. This means we are

doing very well and the economy is growing fast. So, let us face the facts as they are. We now have to be very careful to avoid going back to where we were.

I want to thank the Committee because they have considered the agriculture sector, which is the cornerstone of the economy of this country. They have allocated money for fertiliser subsidy. I sit in the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock. We went around the country and found there was fake fertiliser, but Trans Nzoia County was not affected. We did not have any problem and, therefore, subsidised fertiliser is okay.

Secondly, is the issue of Kenya Co-operative Creameries (KCC) which has been boosted so that it can be able to produce enough milk and enable them export some, particularly the powdered milk.

I was in the Middle East about three months ago. I used to work there before becoming a Member of Parliament. If you go to a restaurant and order breakfast, the waiter would ask you whether you want your milk in liquid or powdered form. You will also find milk from our neighbouring country, Uganda. Therefore, this boost on dairy is good and would make farmers produce more milk products which would in turn be exported to earn Kenya foreign income.

As for the sugarcane sector, most of the debts have been cleared. Our factories should produce enough sugarcane for consumption, and the surplus should be sent to areas that do not have the kind of facilities that we have. One important thing is the re-stocking of livestock in the North Eastern Province of this country. We recently had a dry spell, and farmers lost most of their livestock. And with the heavy rains, it has resulted in the loss of a number of livestock all over the country. The Government has allocated some money to compensate the affected farmers who are dependent on livestock to improve their well-being.

Hon. Speaker, I also want to thank the Committee for having come up with this because it is a well-balanced approach. I remember meeting them in the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock. We agreed to allocate them approximately Ksh150 million. This will enable Members to do quite a number of projects in their constituencies under CDF allocations. If this is implemented, we would be able to improve the economy of our country and be able to complete some of the projects that we had started.

On the issue of electricity, under the Last Mile Connectivity Programme, each constituency was allocated Ksh50 million. It is something that I have been waiting for because we have had a lot of problems with it in my area. I do not know about other constituencies. Connectivity of electricity in various areas have been an issue. And given that they are giving us about Ksh50 million per constituency, I believe this would sort out some of the problems that we had concerning electricity. There was an issue of Members being accused by their constituents on why some of their neighbours had been connected to electricity, while their areas were not. However, with these allocations, that tension between Members and wananchi would be ironed out

The Committee also agreed to a 10 per cent increment salary to our staff. Most Members here can attest that in most cases, they have to chip in and help their support staff like the bodyguards and drivers when they claim to have no money. This gesture would help improve their livelihoods.

The fact that the economy is growing is already good news. Let us be serious. The money given to our country is approximately, Ksh400 billion. I, therefore, urge the governors to work with the elected leaders. Some governors are selfish. They are given money for development and yet, some have no such programs in their counties.

In my constituency for example, we had water issues and yet, the Governor did nothing to help and yet it is a devolved function. I hope and pray that for the welfare of our people, governors

would work with us and help us correct those mistakes for the prosperity of our own people who voted us in.

There are some accusations here and there of some Members who supported this Budget in the last Financial Year. Let us leave that to the past and work together. Where we find a mistake, let us correct it. If you think the Committee has not come up with an important issue, let us correct and move forward so that we do not face opposition and avoid shouting at each other. Let us work together as a team so that we can implement whatever we have on the table.

Thank you, and I support.

Hon. Farah Maalim): Hon. Wachira.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to support the Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2024/2025 as laid by the Chair.

As the Chairman said, this process was consultative, and the departmental committees were able to meet the various State departments and engage with them.

The Budget and Appropriations Committee then met with the Chairs of the other departmental committees, and we were also able to engage them. Apart from that, 20 counties that are spread across the regions were chosen randomly and we were able to do public participation. As a Committee, we were able to listen to the public, and their views were incorporated in this Report. Hence, it has been a consultative process.

I want to just contribute to a few areas that we have made some proposals as the Committee to the House. It is important to know that in the estimates that were tabled by the National Treasury, most of the Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs) were allocated almost zero budget

Hon. Fatuma Jehow, followed by the Member for Yatta.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to make my remarks on the Budget Estimates. I thank the Chairman and Members of the Budget and Appropriations Committee who took their time to burn the midnight oil.

Having said that, there are always gainers and losers in any budget. I am happy today because education and security sectors have some increase in the Budget. I want to take this opportunity to talk to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) . They should take this opportunity to end the issues of unemployed teachers from North Eastern. There are so many teachers who are not employed. We have been on their corridors to source for employment. Hopefully, they will take this opportunity to employ more teachers.

In the same breath, in every event that we go to, we hear a lot of complaints about Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers who are on contract for one year. Their contracts have ended. I urge TSC to take their time, so that they can employ them on permanent and pensionable terms. I would also like to request the Ministry of Education to improve the infrastructure of our schools.

When we go to them, we are told a lot about the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), and how it will be used in our counties. We get NG-CDF, but it is not enough to improve the infrastructure of our classes. Just few months ago, we had very heavy rains in our region. The classes were demolished. So many schools cannot be accessed.

There is also an increase in the allocation of funds in the security sector. We hope that this will enhance security along our borders. One thing that makes me happy today is the National Police Service (NPS). I take this opportunity to talk to the Inspector-General of Police, Principal Secretary and Cabinet Secretary who are charge of police officers to, at least, give police officers insurance covers with immediate effect. They have not had them for the past one year. We get many calls, messages and communication that when they go to hospitals, they do not access any services there. I also want them to be given allowances. Some police officers work in far-flanked areas from where they live. Hopefully, we will see an improvement in their salaries and allowances. Since we came to this august House, the 13th Parliament, we have not had any recruitment of police officers. This Budget offers an opportunity for that exercise.

We have been told that there is a reduction of Ksh75 billion from the road development budget. We understand that different parts of the country have different needs - urban and rural counties. I support the reduction of Ksh75 billion, but I hope it will not negatively affect the remote and under-developed counties. For example, the recent heavy rains completely cut off the North Eastern region from the rest of the country. If those budget cut affects the road network in North- Eastern, another heavy rainfall could leave us inaccessible. I ask the Chairperson and the Committee to reduce that money from the developed counties that do not need more roads as opposed to counties that need a better road network.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, we need to be honest with each other. Some leaders are a bit insensitive. I have been here since morning waiting to contribute to this Motion. How can a leader stand here and suggest that some communities, which are much smaller in size, receive more budget allocation than others? It is not right for a leader to encourage the continued marginalisation of minority communities by not allocating them enough money to compete with the rest. Some of those counties are marginalised due to historical injustices, something we did not ask for or want. What if Wajir became the capital city of Kenya and was more developed than Nairobi or Kiambu where our brother Hon. Ichung’wah comes from? We would be more than happy to welcome them in Wajir. We would be more than willing to share our land with them, and, perhaps, even more.

It is insensitive for some leaders to say that some regions are taking more than they deserve. The 2010 Constitution established the Equalization Fund, which we have not used to date because of those side shows. I heard someone say that some people in Eastleigh sell cheap phones because of tax evasion. I want to take this opportunity to tell the country that those people are proud Kenyans who thrive on doing business. Those are the people who have grown up seeing their parents and grandparents doing business. They pay taxes just like any other Kenyan in this country. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. We all want the same thing. We want our regions to be developed. We want our regions to get national schools. Can you imagine that we got one national school and a referral hospital after devolution? Sometimes, our brother should just ponder on how we have been marginalised as Kenyans and as people from the northern and North Eastern parts of Kenya. When things worsen, we will tell them to divide this country. Let us see who will get land and who will get the people.

With those remarks, I support the Motion.

Member of Parliament for Yatta, followed by Member of Parliament for Lafey.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, thank you for giving me the Floor. We have indeed waited for quite some time because we really wanted to contribute. At the outset, allow me to thank the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee for a very informative Budget.

Education is an equaliser. Were it not for education, even you would not sit where you are and I would not be where I am. I would not have served the countries that I have served under the United Nations (UN) . If you look at the budget that has been allocated under the education sector, Ksh700 billion is a very reasonable amount. It will accommodate all Junior Secondary School (JSS) interns and support the School Feeding Programme to which we have allocated Ksh3.5 billion. The School Feeding Programme is very essential because it is the only way learners from very poor families can be retained in school. Performance improves as they receive quality food in schools. Of course, I know we are only feeding ASAL regions. However, through the Motion that has been moved this afternoon, we recommend that, at least, all learners in our schools should be considered in the School Feeding Programme. A timely amendment should come to support it.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, the increment to the education sector by about Ksh80 billion making it Ksh700 billion in the coming 2024/2025 Financial Year is important because it will also support Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. We know that acquiring technical skills improves and increases employability levels for our youth. Most of them are languishing in drugs and other social vices that we have all been talking about.

When I look at the Ksh10 billion that has been allocated to agriculture, I realize that the money is very little because most of it goes to the subsidised fertiliser. Some areas do not require subsidised fertiliser. An example is Yatta Constituency. What we require is water to support irrigated agriculture. Over time, I have been pushing to have the construction of proper dams like Yatta Dam to support irrigated agriculture. We need to consider revising upwards the money that has been allocated for agriculture. Remember this country imports a lot of food. We need to focus on food production if, indeed, we want to have a healthy balance of trade. Boosting food production will also support the manufacturing sector. It will also open more opportunities for the young people to be employed under agriculture as well as other sectors that will be supported by it. I find the Ksh10 billion allocated to agriculture very little. Therefore, there is need to look into that and revise the money upwards.

I applaud the Budget and Appropriations Committee under the leadership of Hon. Ndindi Nyoro for considering an increment in respect of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) . Remember, most of what can be seen in support of the education sector is as a result of the NG-CDF. At least, there will be equality in education infrastructure across the country when the money to the Fund is increased. Today, we are talking about education as an equaliser in many fronts. We will compromise the quality of education that our learners get if we do not support the improvement of the education infrastructure. Therefore, I fully support the increased funding of the NG-CDF.

On matters electricity, allow me to applaud the team again. There is a huge disparity with regard to connectivity to electricity across all constituencies. Having Ksh50 million allocated to each constituency to support electricity, is something that we should all be proud of. This is because when we connect all areas with electricity, we can support even e-learning which requires electricity as an ingredient. At the same time, we will support other functions within our areas in matters to do with electricity. Allocating that amount of money is important.

Another essential element is Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The Ksh150 million that has been allocated to ICT is very crucial because we are in a digital world where technology is very critical. We have to make sure our country moves with the world in matters of technology. The amount of money allocated to support ICT hubs across all constituencies is very important, and I fully support it.

Before I close my submission, I would like to put an emphasis on issues to do with equity and Article 10 of the Constitution. The Leader of the Majority Party is here today and he attacked me in the morning. He said that I made unsubstantiated allegations concerning more money that has been allocated to Kikuyu Constituency. I have evidence where the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) had gazetted an advertisement on 8th May 2024….

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

What is your point of order, Leader of the Majority Party?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise under Standing Order No.87 on statements of fact. The Member for Yatta Constituency was not here in the morning. He says that I attacked him. I am not in the business of attacking any Member of Parliament. Therefore, he should learn that there is no such language as attacking a fellow Hon. Member. More importantly, he purports to be tabling a document he is holding, which he has not laid on the Table of the House for you to verify whether it is admissible to the House. You cannot just come with any documents here. The other day, during the Impeachment Motion, I talked about newspaper cuttings. I could have these Order Papers here and purport to be carrying documents from KURA, Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) or Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) .

Hon. Temporary Speaker, you should direct the Member for Yatta Constituency that, if he has any document that he is referring to, it must first be tabled for you to verify whether it is authentic or not. This is because I can also wave papers here and say that it is the Holy Bible I am holding and yet, they are pages of the Order Paper!

I, therefore, urge that you direct the Member for Yatta to tread carefully. What I said in the morning was a statement of fact. It is something that he was saying on television, which he could not substantiate. If he wants to substantiate or discuss my conduct here, then he has the liberty to bring a substantive Motion, and I will be here to defend myself. Since he was not here, I can tell him what I indicated. He appeared on a television interview purporting to quote documents that were being circulated on social media, that included roads in Kabete and Limuru. I can educate him on the boundaries because I am certain that he has never been beyond Yatta and Thika. Hapo tu!

Please guide him, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, allow me to inform the Hon. Member for Kikuyu that he may not be aware that I am not zeroed to Yatta only. I actually have global experience, which I think he does not have.

The document I have is from the portal of KURA. I can table this document with our Clerks-at-the-Table.

Table it.

Yes, I will. What I meant on television….

What does the document say?

It shows that, out of all the allocated KURA roads for Kiambu County, about 63 per cent went to Kikuyu Constituency. Out of the total Kenya Rural

Roads Authority (KeRRA) roads that were gazetted under Kiambu County, 94.4 per cent went to Kikuyu Constituency. I was making reference to this on matters of equity and Article 10 of the Constitution. So, when Hon. Ichung’wah, who is our Leader of the Majority Party alluded that I have un-substantiated information, he was wrong. I have facts. As patriots, let us not be selfish. We all represent people and all constituencies in Kenya deserve to get equal services. I got this from the portal and it is even signed. So, I have evidence.

Order, Hon. Members. Can you allow the Chair to address the House? Now, what exactly are you trying to tell the House in terms of what goes where? The Government, through its own expenditure, has a right to take resource development to wherever it wants. When you say that a certain portion or percentage, are you citing a provision of the Constitution that has been contravened or a Standing Order? What exactly are you trying to say? Hon. Basil, could you lay that document on the Table? Proceed!

Order, Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah! You will have all the time to raise your points of order. Can you allow the Speaker to run this place? If you sit back and listen, you will be more informed to interrogate the Hon. Member. Relax. What exactly is it that you want to tell the House or the presiding Chair in this matter?

What I was trying to say is that, under Article 10 of the Constitution, we talk of equity in governance and service delivery. It is important, as a nation, we all distribute resources equitably because all Kenyans pay taxes.

What does equity mean?

Equity means fairness. I can make reference…

How fair is fairness? Order. There is a serious misunderstanding of the workings of Government and Statecraft. If there is a Government project, say an airport, that has been constructed in Nairobi worth Ksh300 billion, would it be fair to say that we must have a similar one in Wajir, Makueni and Isiolo? What exactly do you understand equity to mean? For your information, I do not want to engage in a long debate on the matter. Order, Hon. Ichung’wah.

Can I just inform you? Every Government comes up with its own development plans. The development plans it comes up with is basically the mandate that was given to it by the people or the masses at that time. What you need to say, as part of your representation of Yatta Constituency, is that such-and-such a place needs this-and-that. You see what I mean?

Order! My good friend, the Professor. Order! If you want to bring a matter to be discussed, similar to what you are trying to say, including the conduct of any individual, bring a substantive Motion to that effect. Standing Order 91 says that a Member shall be responsible for the accuracy of any facts which a Member alleges to be

true and may be required to substantiate. The other one says that you cannot impute improper motives on any other Member without a substantive Motion on that. You cannot discuss the conduct of a Member in his individual capacity. You can discuss the conduct of the chairperson of a certain body and say that he or she has erred in doing some things. But, if you are going to say that Hon. Ichung’wah - who is a Member of Parliament for Kikuyu and is the Leader of the Majority Party with very little role in the production of a Budget under the current Constitution - has used his powers to take 90 per cent or 70 per cent, then you need to bring a substantive Motion. I am trying to make sure that this House lives to…

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. In line with the current Budget, it is important that we observe equity under Article 10 of the Constitution. Another important cross-cutting issue is gender mainstreaming. Our Budget needs to be gender-responsive so as to cater for the interests and priorities of women and men in this country. Another key issue

is that we need to commit to implementing the Budget. All the time we read very enticing budgets but, when it comes to implementation, there are always delays with the Exchequer. Money is delayed and, therefore, project implementation is delayed. It is important that the Exchequer promptly releases money for projects so that they are implemented within the shortest time possible.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I submit and support the Budget as tabled by Hon. Ndindi Nyoro.

The Member for Lafey, followed by the Leader of the Majority Party.

What is important? Are you raising a point of order on a matter that has already been determined? What is it, Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg for your indulgence. As you clearly stated, every Member has a responsibility of statement of fact in line with our Standing Orders. Everything that we say in this House goes on record. It may be misconstrued by somebody watching from outside this House that the Member for Yatta has tabled a document that has been admitted into the House…

Order! This document has not been admitted. It has been tabled. There is a difference between the tabling of a document and admission of a document.

Order! Hon. Majority Leader, could you, please, take your seat? Please, could you take your seat now?

Order! Order! If you want to revisit this matter, the Hon. Member has given his statement and he has tabled a document. The document is going to be perused by the Chair. After it has been perused, the Hansard will be produced to see whether there was imputing of improper motive. I have already declared him out of order.

Order! Order! You want to invite me to send you out? You think it is going to be an honour for you to go out? I am not going to give you that glory today!

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for giving me this opportunity. I support the Report on the consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Financial Year 2024/2025 and the Medium Term. I want to join my colleagues in

supporting this Report. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Budget and Appropriations Committee, of which I am a Member, for the good work.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Departmental Committee on Education and Research for reinstating the Ksh2 billion for the School Feeding Programme. The Budget and Appropriation Committee has increased that amount from Ksh2 billion to Ksh3 billion. We know that this Programme has a great impact and has encouraged high enrolment in the Arid and Semi- arid Lands (ASALs). So, I thank the Members for supporting it. We all know that the children who benefit from that School Feeding Programme are really in need.

In this Budget, Ksh1 billion has been allocated to the State Department for Livestock for the animal restocking programme. This will help and support pastoralists who lost their livestock during the drought and recent floods.

As a Committee, we have allocated Ksh10 billion to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for reinforcement. We all know that whenever we pass the Budget, there is always a shortfall. So that we avoid that, we have empowered the KRA to, at least, reinforce their revenue collection. As Members have already said about this Report, for fairness and equity, we have allocated more than Ksh14 billion to Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) that the 290 constituencies will share equally. Every constituency will get Ksh50 million for electricity.

We have also allocated Ksh20 billion for pending bills. We are aware of the Public Debt and Privatisation Committee and of the pending bills amounting to more than Ksh20 billion. The Committee is receiving reports from Departmental Committees.

Where is the Member of Parliament for Yatta? Has he left?

Hon. Member, give me a moment. You will proceed thereafter. I have gone through this document and I am going to determine its admissibility. This is a tender document. I do not know whether it was cancelled or not. I have gone through it and have only seen Kikuyu in one or two places with an indication of Ksh40 million and Ksh60 million.

Hon. Members and members of the public who are following the proceedings of the House are making a presumption that essentially imputes improper motive on an Hon. Member. I could go through this list one by one. It says Nakuru Town, North Rift, Kapsowar, North Rift, Shifika Hotel, which I do not know where it is located.

I can only see one place written Kikuyu Town. I see Murang’a, Embu, Kakamega, Vihiga, Kikuyu Bus Stop which has Ksh35 million, Rift Valley and Nandi. The only place I do not see here is North Eastern region. Maybe, I should be the one complaining.

Order! The Temporary Speaker is on his feet. I can see North Rift and progressively you continue to the end. I see Kisumu, Kehancha, Kinangop, Nyamache, Nakuru, Nyamira, Murang’a again, Nanyuki, Kisumu, Kikuyu Town again with Ksh60 million, Kitui where you come from…

Thank you, Hon Temporary Speaker. I was speaking to my last point on the pending bills. We have allocated Ksh20 billion to pending bills. I urge the Executive to prioritise that for the sake of deserving Kenyans. We all know there are Kenyans whose properties have been auctioned. I urge the Executive to, at least, prioritise deserving Kenyans.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support.

Hon. Ngusya, followed by Hon. Lesuuda and Hon. Elachi.

Unfortunately, you will just have to wait. You are used to being the first because you are the Leader of the Majority Party. But the Temporary Speaker will indulge you. Just wait for the other Members to also do something. Proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The Leader of the Majority Party can wait. He has spoken so much in this House. I take this opportunity to first thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker and the Committee, for doing a wonderful job. I recall when my colleagues were preparing this Budget, they burnt the midnight oil attending meetings throughout the week and the month.

At the outset, I support the Budget because I have seen it is balanced and is fairly good for all departments, starting with education. We introduced a new curriculum system in this country. One of the key issues I have noted is that we recruited so many interns for Junior Secondary Schools. The justice the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) can do is not to recruit new interns, without first employing and confirming the current interns as permanent and pensionable. That is a very good thing in this Budget.

The other issue is agriculture. We have to reclaim the pride we used to have by saying Kenya is leading in terms of the production of tea and coffee. I am happy we have allocated money for those two crops. I was lucky to visit the sugar belt companies of Nzoia, Miwani and Chemelil. It is good we have allocated money to save that sector to reclaim sugar production and waive the arrears of the Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA). Livestock has been allocated Ksh1 billion. It is a good move. I know you are very happy because you come from those areas which rear livestock.

We know Ksh759 billion has been allocated to roads. I recall it was confirmed by the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport. Projects have stalled. One of the key roads across my constituency, Kibwezi-Kitui-Migwani-Bodoni Road, connects your road to Garissa. If we can prioritise stalled projects, we will be doing very well for the country in terms of infrastructure and actual trade and travel across the counties.

On the Judiciary, there is a big win. I note, however, with some concern that some independent commissions presented their budgets with serious cuts, especially the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). It is good in overseeing the way police are run and yet, their budget was severely cut. We need to consider some of those independent commissions and offices like the Office of the Auditor-General, which is key in giving information to this Parliament on the scrutiny of how funds are utilised.

Devolution has won big at Ksh400 billion. We have broken the barrier. It is high time governors started showing us how devolved funds are used. They can perform better than the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), which has been outshining devolution. On NG-CDF, a majority of our schools have gone through a lot of hard times. The funds are never enough in our country. However, I commend the Committee for the work they have done to ensure each constituency gets the share that it deserves. Now we can build our classes, enhance JSS, and ensure that the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) activities are undertaken in our schools.

There is a big win on the issue of electricity. If you recall, some of those constituencies are either 99 or 100 per cent electrified. Even if we will get this equitable share of Ksh50 million, the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) needs to re-organise and re- allocate some of those funds to other constituencies, especially from those which are fully electrified or with 95 per cent or more connectivity. This will be good for the achievement of equitable development in our country.

The Cash Transfer Programme is a good idea. We need to come up with a system whereby we do not have to wait for communication from the Ministry to start inviting members who have hit the age of 70 years to come for registration. We can do this automatically through a certain software application or any other method that can target the elderly.

Before I finish Hon. Temporary Speaker, we have to prioritise the sealing of revenue loopholes to make Kenya less reliable on external debts and stabilise the economy. This is a very fair and well-presented Budget. However, we need to challenge the Exchequer to be releasing funds on time. They should not wait until the last minute, like the way we were making the Second

Supplementary Budget today to release the rest of the amount. We need to be implementing almost 90 per cent of the Budget on or before March, or the last quarter of the financial year.

With those few remarks, because my colleagues want to speak, I support the Motion. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Leader of the Majority Party, followed by Hon. Lesuuda and Hon. Elachi Beatrice.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. As I said in the morning when we were discussing the Supplementary Budget... Allow me to take this opportunity to thank Members of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, and all Members and Chairpersons of the Departmental Committees for the hard work that they have put in during the recess.

As I mentioned in the morning, they considered both the Supplementary Estimates and annual Budget Estimates. Some of them were part and parcel of the Mediation Team that considered the amendments of the Division of Revenue Bill and the other issues that they had. I take this opportunity to thank them.

This Budget that we are considering for the Financial Year 2024/2025 comes at a very critical moment for us in this country, given the backdrop of very dilapidating floods that have occasioned almost Ksh8.9 billion that we discussed this morning. The money will go towards emergency measures to address the challenge of floods. It also comes at a time when those who forecast the weather are telling us that we may have unusual rainfall in the country for the next seven years. Hon. Members, you will bear witness that across the entire country, floods have affected our agricultural production this year in a big way. It is likely that in the coming year, we may have challenges. A lot of farmland has been washed away by floods. A lot of food that had been planted has also gone to waste, courtesy of the floods. Therefore, we need to devote more resources to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to ensure that we mitigate the losses that may be occasioned by flooding.

Two, is the issue of our fiscal deficit vis-à-vis the need to borrow. We have always spoken about this matter. In the next Financial Year, the estimated revenues of almost Ksh3.2 trillion – and that is about 17.9 per cent of our GDP – which is close to Ksh2.8 trillion of the revenue - which is about 15.5 per cent of our GDP – is projected to come from our ordinary revenues. Ordinary revenue is what we normally raise from our taxes. As we consider these Budget Estimates, we must bear in mind that this Budget must be financed. The how to finance the Budget is what we will do with the Finance Bill, which is undergoing public participation and stakeholder engagement before the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning.

Even as we support all expenditures - including those going to the NG-CDF, hiring our JSS teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, and ensuring that our neighbourhoods are secure, and the completion of roads that have stalled - we must always bear in mind that all these things call for resources. Those resources will be raised through revenue raising measures that the Cabinet Secretary will be speaking to on Thursday next week. More important is what we shall pass in this House, when the Finance Bill comes here. Quite often, we are very happy to pass our Budget Estimates as they are. A week afterwards, we forget that we are the ones who passed the Budget and appropriated resources. The resources we appropriate must be raised from somewhere. I am saying this to prepare ourselves. I presume it is next week or the week after, since I do not want to anticipate debate. We must bear in mind that the Finance Bill we will consider will finance the expenditures we are speaking to.

On our fiscal deficit that I spoke to, I am glad the National Treasury has kept its word for the first time. When we started the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) two years ago, they indicated to us that they would seek to bring down our fiscal deficit every financial year. This is to ensure we do not continue putting our country, our good motherland, into unnecessary debt. You will see that the fiscal deficit projected in the coming 2024/2025 Financial Year is a figure of Ksh638.4 billion, that is, 3.5 per cent of our GDP compared to the projected fiscal deficit of Ksh886 billion in this 2023/2024 Financial Year, which is 5.5 per cent of our GDP. That is close to Ksh250 billion being cut out of our fiscal deficit or rather money that may have been borrowed this year. It shall not be borrowed next year.

That is not by accident! It is a deliberate plan by the Government as promised by President William Ruto that we shall be deliberate not to over-borrow. We shall also be deliberate and sensitive to the Kenyan taxpayer as we seek to raise revenue from them through the Finance Bill. I have seen a lot of misreporting on this issue. I want to assure Kenyans that we will be sensitive. Last night, I saw the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning

Committee on Finance and National Planning, said that in good faith. As the Chairman of that

April. Every Member of Parliament, whether they represent the people of Yatta, Kikuyu or Samburu East constituencies, has access to these documents. It is our responsibility as Members of Parliament to go through these documents with a tooth comb and check whether the people we represent are represented in those documents. When you fail to do your work and start pointing fingers at other people, you will only have yourself to blame.

In conclusion, we promised that we will continuously reduce our fiscal deficit and, indeed, that is reflected in these Estimates. However, for that to be actualised, I will repeat what I said this morning during the debate on the Supplementary Budget. It will only happen and can only happen if and only if we achieve the revenue targets that we have set in these documents. If the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has agreed with the National Treasury that our ordinary revenue will rise to close to Ksh2.8 trillion, it will institute whatever measures to make sure that we collect as much revenue as we are able to. Multiplicity of taxes does not necessarily reflect better revenues, but they must leverage on technology. The Electronic Tax Invoicing Management System (eTIMS) that is being rolled out is something that KRA must go out to educate Kenyans on the need for automation and the need to move to a digital economy. Countries and economies much smaller than ours like Rwanda, are already on these workable systems and they are leveraging on technology to collect more revenues. We have seen it through the centralisation of our Appropriations-in-Aid (A-in-A) in the e-Citizen platform.

I was saying this morning that we saw instances where a department that was reporting a mere Kshs9 million shillings in A-in-A in a year, is now collecting close to Kshs40 million shillings in a month. That tells you the power of technology and leveraging on it to ensure that there is accountability and transparency in the collection of all the revenues that are bound to be collected by Government for provision of services. I trust that we shall achieve these targets in our revenue estimates so that our budget deficit remains where it is.

The President committed, and I listened to him keenly on Madaraka Day, that it is his prayer and wish that within a short period in his term as President - and I cannot remember whether he said three or five years - we shall see a balanced Budget. This reduction in our fiscal deficit is a road towards that balanced Budget. I want to encourage the National Treasury to work hard and support the President, the Budget and Appropriations Committee, and this House to ensure that we have a balanced budget within another three to five years. This will ensure that we stop over- burdening the Kenyan taxpayer by raising resources from them, and utilizing them to pay debt rather than utilising those resources to offer services.

Finally, Hon. Temporary Speaker, let me speak to our Junior Secondary School (JSS)

teachers. I know those JSS teachers have really harassed Members of Parliament. They formed a WhatsApp group where they all agreed to harass Members of Parliament to appropriate resources. We told some of them to be patient. Now that resources are being appropriated in the next Financial Year to hire them, we want to plead with them. The teaching profession is a high calling. It is so high a calling that it is teachers who are training our future — the future that we have invested in our children. Please, I know we all need resources for our own personal development, but I want to plead with them that, as you serve as an intern, give it your very best. Give it your best in service so that even as Teachers Service Commission (TSC) reviews those that they will put on permanent and pensionable terms, they put those who have passion for the job and those who have offered themselves to the high calling of the teaching profession.

I have also seen a few of them who have no calling and have put resources ahead of that greater calling of nurturing our young ones. I really want to plead with them now that resources are being appropriated, to rise up to the higher calling of nurturing and educating our young ones

to secure the future of our great Republic through better leaders and professionals, probably even much better than us. That is what we pray and desire for our young ones and the children of Kenya.

With those few remarks, I support.

Hon. Lesuuda, followed by Hon. Elachi and Hon. Kaluma.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to make my submissions on the consideration of the Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2024/2025.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, at the outset I would like to thank Hon. Ndindi Nyoro for his excellent leadership during the entire process where we were looking at the Supplementary Estimates II. We were even looking at the Division of Revenue Allocation Bill and also the main Estimates. He offered excellent leadership. I also want to thank the chairpersons of departmental committees for taking a lot of time combing through the reports that have been brought before them by the National Treasury and finally making their final submissions.

I sit in the Budget and Appropriations Committee. One of the rules of the thumb we apply is that we do not change or interfere with what the departmental committees bring before us. This is because they are the ones who interact with the various ministries and departments. So, they know why a certain area needs more allocation than another. We only look at the basic issue of equity and ask a few questions. We majorly adopt what the departmental committees bring before us so that we can move together as a House.

It is important to look at the sectors that are funded in the Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2024/2025. One, is the security docket, which has received more funds. As a country, it is important to ensure that our people are safe and secure. It is so that they can live normal lives and continue with their day to day activities. I want to bring to the attention of this House that we have noticed in the North Rift…

Hon. Kaluma, do I get the feeling that you are harassing the Member for Samburu West?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. He is consulting in a high tone and naturally, he has a loud voice.

I want to bring to the attention of this House and country that, generally, the areas in the North Rift, apart from Baringo, have been experiencing some form of calmness. Even though there are no attacks, so many people were displaced from their homes. Therefore, we cannot say that we have peace in those areas until those people go back to their homes. They want to farm since it is raining. When people go back to their normal lives, that is when we will say we have peace in the North Rift. So, the security docket funds have been increased and I hope they will ensure that people are re-located back to their homes.

We know Ksh1 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development for restocking. I hope that as they consider the people who are affected by drought, even those affected by insecurity will be considered and given priority when the restocking process starts. I know very many families who lost all their livestock and are living beyond poverty. They have children in schools and cannot afford to pay their school fees. I hope that this Ksh1 billion…

We will be following up with the Ministry to ensure that those who are affected by insecurity are given priority when the restocking starts.

I have always said severally that Kenyans do not mind paying taxes, even though they always look at how their money is spent in the sectors that are being funded. They want to see whether the funds will rejuvenate our economy. They are interested in areas that cushion them, especially the social and health sectors. Kenya is celebrating over 60 years of Independence and we should not lack vaccines. Also, mothers should not face problems when they go to deliver in our hospitals.

Regarding the education sector, we should have free universal education in our country. One issue which has come to my attention is that most Kenyans are unaware of the new model of university education funding. We saw in the public domain that so many children who qualified to go to the university did not apply to join our public universities. We need to interrogate and ask ourselves what the issue is. Is it that our children and parents are not aware of the new funding model? Is it more expensive? We need to get those answers as a House. So, issues to do with health, education and money for the elderly has been increased. We hope the money can be released early so that the vulnerable children in our communities can receive it on time.

In our interactions with the Treasury, one of the issues that kept coming up is the issue of the Exchequer. Yes, we might fund all those issues and, sometimes, it is not a matter of saying there is no money. It is just about our priorities. When money is collected as a country, who do we fund first? We do not have to wait until we see people on the streets demonstrating because their money has not been paid. We do not have to see demonstrations in this House that the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) has been delayed. We are going to the end of the financial year and we have not received all the funds for the Financial Year ending 2023/2024. It is important that, as revenue is collected, the Exchequer should also be released on time.

The Equalisation Fund has been factored in this Budget. In the last one, an arrears of Ksh10 billion was released. One of the two issues I want to raise with the Equalization Fund is that we know the critical role that it plays in areas which, for a very long time, have been left behind in terms of development. That money is now being put to use by our governors. Let there be prudent use of the money by county governments. They must ensure that projects that are proposed and funded are life-changing projects. It is not fair to construct a road of Ksh5 million or Ksh8 million using the Equalization Fund. It is important for us to look at cross- cutting issues like big dams, water, large roads and so forth. It must be about projects that will actually change the lives of our marginalised areas. That way, the Fund will have a significant impact in our areas.

As I conclude, I had talked severally on the issue of the school feeding programme. In my view, it should not be stopped. How can we come up with a Budget that has zero issues about the school feeding programme, especially for the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs)? We know that there are some children who go to school to just eat and, thereafter, they get educated. We know education is an equalizer and it is what will bring those areas to the same level with other parts of the country. I also want to encourage and implore those who are actually thinking of ever moving that money back to the Ministry from the National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK), which is the implementing agency, not to think about it.

Indeed, NACONEK has been ensuring we get food in our schools on time. So, if something is working, let us not re-invent the wheel. There are 2.3 million children who actually benefit from the School Feeding Programme. Let it be their business every morning and evening to ensure that

the food gets to our schools. Let the Ministry for Education deal with other issues such as curriculum, capitation and so forth.

With those very many remarks, I support.

Hon. Elachi.

Thank you Hon. Temporary Speaker. Allow me to also appreciate the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC) and the Committee itself for a job well done. It is now our duty as Members to look at what the Chair has presented.

First, I wish to applaud that, indeed, we are handling devolution well. I am happy Hon. Lesuuda and the team went for mediation and were able to give counties Ksh400 billion. As we talk about the deficit in our Budget, it is critical to note that Kenyans are watching. Kenyans would wish to see us actualise what we say. I think that is what the Committee has done. I hope going forward, by the next Financial Year, God willing, we shall be talking of Ksh400 billion cuts. For now, the Ksh200 billion cut is critical.

The education sector has been allocated a whopping Ksh700 billion. If we are funding education the way we are, then the Ministry should stop delaying the release of capitation to primary and secondary schools and universities. That is how all schools have found themselves with pending bills. We should start looking at our ethics and governance. How do we ensure that the Exchequer releases money so that we do not get into pending bills in schools? We are happy the school-feeding programme is back. We were very worried.

Let me now look at the vote for health. We really pleaded with the Budget and Appropriations Committee on whether we could retain the Linda Mama Programme. We have been told it will go to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) . Ours is to ensure that women get SHIF cards so that they can go back to the programme. We lose so many women when they are giving birth. We lost a girl who went through surgery. Three days later, she was gone and left the baby. We need to look at this vote and be very clear that the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) we are talking about will also take care of reproductive and maternal health, new born children, infants and adolescents. It is something that we should not ignore.

Vote 1092 is on rail transport. We should agree we have retrogressed because of the floods. We shall have to spend a lot. On rail transport, there is a lot to be done. Therefore, I agree that they should receive the resources. With the locomotives we were given, Kenyans are now travelling through the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) . Those locomotives are now old. I know Kenya Railways is making profits. Those running the business should start refurbishing the locomotives and ensure that we have new locomotives to carry our people, so that we can also feel proud of what we are doing and saying.

Vote 1109 is on water resources. In Nairobi, the issue of sewer system needs to be sorted out. When we had floods, everything got mixed up. I doubt whether our water is as clean as we think. Therefore, we have to look at the sewer lines and rectify the issue.

I thank the Leader of the Majority Party for what he has said about the JSS interns. Yesterday, I went to a school and I felt very sad. I met the teachers in the staffroom during their break and everything was on the table. They had peels on the table. So, I asked them: “You are supposed to be a role model for a child who is going to build her foundation through you to become a responsible Kenyan! How can you leave your staffroom this dirty?” Those are some of the things we are saying. I want to tell TSC, yes, we have interns, but they were on probation. They have to know that.

When it comes to Public Service, the attitude and temperament of employees on probation are carefully evaluated. As a result, the decision to retain some interns is based on their behaviour. We want to see our children learning in a conducive environment. The CBC is a new model that will help our children grow. Therefore, it is important to recognise that teachers play a crucial role in shaping the future of our children. They do so for the children to become better Kenyans who will serve Kenya in future. We have to be very firm on this and the people have to respect this.

On the topic of agriculture, we discussed the establishment of a new Kenya Agricultural Corporation. We want the dairy farmers to benefit from this initiative. Regarding sugar-cane farming, sugar-cane farmers have been facing challenges for a while. We must consider the agricultural sector as a whole. I thank the President for bringing the Agro-preneurs Initiative. I have seen that we have allocated a significant amount of money to the crop mitigation vote. I hope that our farmers on the ground will see reasons to continue farming. If we believe that agriculture is the pillar of our economy, let us all stand firm and support it. For example, the military could lease idle farms and farm for the nation.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) needs to focus on the road sector. Kenyans are very smart and they will not allow themselves to be drained. We lost money in the fuel levy because we could not collect what was required. This is because we pushed Kenyans to the wall, and they decided to leave their cars at home. Even as we increase taxes, let us embrace a culture that creates a conducive environment for Kenyans to appreciate paying taxes.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, as we audit all Government accounts, even the NG-CDF is facing issues with the Auditor-General because of the late exchequer. Our accounts will always be questioned because of this. Therefore, the Exchequer should assist us in resolving this.

With those remarks, I thank you. I also thank the House and the Committee.

Hon. Kaluma followed by Hon. Kihungi, Hon. (Dr) Eve Obara and then Hon. (Dr) Oundo.

I thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Allow me to start by congratulating the Budget and Appropriations Committee for the good work that they continue to do. I also thank the various departmental committees who also contribute in a fundamental way to the budgeting process. I hope that all their views were taken into account by the Budget and Appropriations Committee in the final Report.

Our problem as a country is not the budget, but budget implementation, which has failed consistently to adhere to the national values and principles of governance as prescribed under Article 10 of the Constitution. There is a good reason why the budgeting authority was moved from the National Treasury, which is the Executive, to this House. This is the National Assembly. It is the assembly of the nation through their representatives. The thinking is that when we are budgeting and sharing out the national cake, I will ask about Homa Bay Town Constituency. Hon. Nyikal will ask about Seme Constituency. My brother, Hon. Ruku, will ask about the constituency of the people he represents. We do that during the budget-making process. The problem is that we send monies to the ministries, State departments and the sectors within them in bulk without itemisation. This is something we need to work on, if we want to achieve the real reason the budgeting authority was moved to this House.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am very happy because on behalf of this Parliament, the Budget and Appropriations Committee, has proposed that we put aside money to employ all JSS teachers. Let me disagree with the speakers who have just spoken that we should again cherry-pick who among those JSS interns should be employed and who should not be. What happened with the

employment of the last 56,000 teachers? In serious democracies, this would have occasioned this House to proceed and move all the commissioners out of office. They should have been removed.

road will be cutting from one point to the other. You go to a county and say: “We will give you 500 kilometres of road”. Have you thought through to consider what those 500 kilometres would be doing to contribute to the national economics beyond those areas?

Going into the future, we will, as Parliament, be required, at least, to come up with a baseline in terms of minimums that can go to areas. How does it please you when you say you are at 100 per cent electrification when other areas are totally dark? Yet, we want to develop the entire country? That is why we bring debates like ‘one man, one vote, one shilling, one kilometre’. Have the people engaging in this debate visited Northern Kenya? You will thank those Kenyans who are ensuring our territories to remain ours there the day you visit the northern side of the country. There are places you are required to drop even used bottles of water. It is very useful. However, those people need to be there so that the territory of Kenya as defined in the Constitution remains intact. How much is it to move a tarmac of road from one corner of North Horr Constituency to the other? Just one constituency. How do you compare it to moving a road from one corner of Homa Bay Town Constituency to the next? I just need seven kilometres and I have crossed. We must have a balance that ensures equity.

As we budget into the future, let us remember that devolution is among national values and principles of governance for a reason. There are places that only began seeing national resources through decentralised funds like the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) and devolution. We still take too much money meant for devolved functions to the national Government. The corruption you see under the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development is because those functions are devolved, but the money is left idling there and, therefore, available to be stolen.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, my last concern is in relation to the institutions we established to underpin good governance. Consistently, year after year, monies going into independent offices and constitutional commissions have been reducing. We need to begin thinking why Article 249 of the Constitution was placed there if we keep reducing that money. That provision says that you shall adequately fund. I have overseen commissions’ budgets where the whole travel budget is less than Ksh500,000 and yet, this is a commission of over 11 people. We are passing them here in bulk and saying we should move that way. What are we doing with the independence of the Judiciary? Can we give them money so that they are financially independent to do their work?

There will be much more to speak on policy directions. However, time has come for Parliament to take charge of the budgeting function. Or else we should tell Kenyans that Parliament cannot do it, which is contrary to what they envisioned in the Constitution.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Kihungi.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I stand to support the Budget Estimates. I also commend the Chairman of the Committee and all its Members for the good work they have done.

I just want to touch on roads where we have many pending ongoing projects like the Mau Roads that were abandoned. For instance, I cannot get home now because of the works that were left undone due to heavy rains. There were landslides. I cannot access my home now. I pray that most of the allocated Ksh178 billion will go to the pending works.

As we commend the Budget and Appropriations Committee, we have the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning that is working very hard, but going through a lot of hardships and attacks. Out of the budget of Ksh3.9 trillion, Ksh1.2 trillion will be used to pay debts

from the Consolidated Fund, Ksh1.5 trillion is going to recurrent expenditure, around Ksh700 billion is allocated for development and an equitable share of around Ksh391 billion.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, as we look at the Budget and the collection of revenue for the last Financial Year 2023/2024, we realise that we had targeted to collect around Ksh2.7 trillion, but we did not manage to reach that mark. We estimate to get around Ksh2.4 trillion. We are expecting to collect Ksh2.9 trillion in this Budget and yet, we have not achieved the 2023/2024 Financial Year target. We must now come up as a Parliament and recommend how revenue collection will be done and await the implementation of this Budget. This Budget will not be implemented if we do not manage to collect revenue. Collection of revenue is tied to the Finance Bill. As Members of Parliament, we need to have a healthy debate.

As we commend and say how good the Budget and Appropriations Committee has performed in allocation of these funds, we must sit together and agree, as a Parliament, on how we will raise those funds. I pity the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. That guy is going through a lot and yet, he is working day and night to see how we can achieve this.

Therefore, I wish to say that our failure to actualise the budgets that we have already passed and the one we are about to pass and the allocations that have been done is mostly based on the revenue collection and the targets that we set. Today, I listened to the former Prime Minister who is targeting the position of Chairperson of the African Union (AU). We look forward to him getting that position. I had a chance to listen to him when he was addressing the nation. He talked about making sure that this country manages to exploit its cash crop or exports to African countries. He also talked about having road networks that can assist a tea farmer to take his or her tea to Central Africa. He talked of changing the route for ships because normally ships move from Mombasa to Middle East and do not go through South Africa and yet, our main markets for tea are in West and North Africa. We have to use a ship to take our tea to either West or North Africa through the Middle East which takes three months as opposed to having a road network from Mombasa cutting across to Lagos. This is like the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) project. We have to look at a broad way on how we can make this country earn foreign income through its exports. Most of our tea farmers are losing hope because the market that we depend on is colonial and is controlled by the West. We cannot trade with our people because we cannot transport tea by flight.

The other day, there was a launch between Kenya and Lagos, but it is only a few tea bags that were taken by flight. To access that market, we need to have a road network. Therefore, Hon. Temporary Speaker, as Parliament we must come up with strategies on how this country will achieve the targets of the revenues that we proclaim to raise.

much you are paying. However, for the KRA, if you import a container, you take three days to be cleared. If they ease the way of paying revenue, most people would be willing to pay.

We must call upon the KRA to make paying taxes comfortable and easy. They are military in their approach and somehow everybody fears the KRA and does not want to be seen by it. This causes the country to lose revenue. We support the allocation but we must go ahead to be part and parcel of the revenue collection through the Finance Bill that is coming next week. Let us not run away from it because if we do, we will not be able to achieve all the things that are in the proposals.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to this debate. At the outset, I support the Report and appreciate the Committee under the leadership of the Chair. I like his humility and the manner in which he handles the committees and individual Members when they approach him on the issues. I sit in the Departmental Committee on Education and knowing that education is the greatest equaliser, I appreciate that Ksh80 billion has been added to the education docket. This brings it to Ksh700 billion, which covers free day secondary schools, the JSS, the school infrastructure, the universities and TVETs. The school feeding programme has also been reinstated even though only for the Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) areas. My desire is that this matter be brought forward again so that, as proposed by a Member, all school-going children be given free food or lunch.

For those of us who come from rural constituencies, more than half of the children go without lunch. When they go back home, there is nothing to eat. I can see the Vice-Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee is here. This should be taken up as a matter of urgency. The late President Moi was able to give free milk to all the schools. We should be able to appropriate funds for our children in school.

I appreciate that we have allocated Ksh4.6 billion for the recruitment of our interns. I am happy that the two cohorts are going to be considered, not just one as was initially proposed. Thus, we will have 46,000 interns being recruited from 1st July on permanent and pensionable terms. I am happy that all of them will be recruited and there is not going to be – underline not going to be

Next is Hon. (Dr) Wilberforce Oundo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I was starting to get worried that today was probably a day for affirmative action, where you give priority to the marginalised. As required under the Constitution and common practice, budget estimates must be presented to the National Assembly for deliberation and approval before being implemented. This has been an annual ritual. I have always commented that it seems even though the Constitution bestowed the powers to make the Budget to the National Assembly, there are too many strenuous forces outside there which shape the outcome of the Budget.

I have looked at the estimates that have been presented. The first glaring observation that I met is that there is an increase over the limit set under the Budget Policy Statement. The limits presented to this House by the National Treasury have gone through the various processes. A quick review indicates that this honourable House or the Committee is proposing an increase of close to Ksh600 billion beyond the figures that were presented by the National Treasury.

After keenly listening to the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, I truly sympathise with him. This is because the data he has presented paints a very rosy picture, while the reality is the complete opposite. It is estimated that the economy grew by 5 per cent in

Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Let me start by congratulating the Budget and Appropriations Committee. I have been in that Committee before and I understand the work that they have to do at this time.

As we appreciate them, we shall go through the budget and, sometimes, there will be Exchequer releases and so on. However, what is important is how those funds are used. That is extremely important. To that extent, I want to look at certain areas which, in my mind, we have a major crisis in this country, but which we do not seem to realise or we do, but we ignore.

Let me start with the Ministry of Education. Education has now been well funded. If you look at university education, there is an increase in the budget from Ksh118 billion to Ksh127 billion. That is good. However, in the same, we have a huge problem of student funding. As at now, many students do not even want to be admitted in the courses that they would like to take, and are going for courses that they think they can afford. Yet, we have more funds.

The basic issue here has been the management and implementation of the new funding system. In principle, it is good and brings three main areas that, all students need to be funded according to their need and the courses they take, so that universities are funded according to the students they have and the courses that they are offering, not just because they are favoured. However, that, in itself, has literally failed and even last year, the capitations did not go and the students that were to get money did not get and yet, we are still giving them.

Even when you look at the management of universities, staff are not being paid and the councils seem not to be working. That is occasioned by frequent problems between councils and vice-chancellors. Therefore, even if we put money there, what are we going to benefit? So, how we implement is an important issue.

Again, in the primary sector, we have got a good increase from Ksh25 billion to Ksh29 billion but, again, here is where we have the problem. JSS is a problem. In my view, children in the JSS programme are being sacrificed. This is because the implementation of that programme was done so fast without proper planning. In some schools, there are only two JSS teachers per class. Even if you have only 40 students or one stream per class, JSS has nine areas. So, two teachers cannot manage. You will need at least four teachers because each teacher can only cover four areas. What happens in schools where there are only two JSS teachers?

JSS is also linked to the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC). I am sure that up to now, the Grade 8 curriculum has not been well stated out. I have talked to some teachers and it is clear that no proper curriculum has been put in place. They have to google for information because what the Ministry wants has not come out properly. So, even if we allocate money to JSS, how will we benefit? We are not even sure whether JSS should have laboratories or workshops. That is not clear. Even if there are funds from NG-CDF, we cannot sufficiently support JSS. Even if we allocate money to those areas, competency in implementation is wanting. In my view, that is where we lose.

The other area of interest is health. The State Department for Medical Services has a good allocation. It has Ksh102 billion which, to a large extent, funds national referral hospitals. There are also funds for cancer treatment. This is a good thing we have done. To begin with, we aim to have access to high level cancer treatment. We have also allocated money to the National Cancer Institute of Kenya. The Institute should cater for the whole cancer programme, that is, from prevention, early detection to easy treatment. It should not just focus on expensive high level cancer treatment. How will this work if we do not manage it properly?

The State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards has a budget of Ksh4 billion. This is a good thing. That is because the problem ailing the health sector is standards. How can we maintain standards and policy at the national level, while their implementation is at the county levels? On human resource, we recently had a doctors’ strike. It has not been resolved because the return-to-work formula was all about promises. We do not know whether those promises will be fulfilled. Further, clinical officers are still on strike.

We have allocated money to the Primary Health Care Fund. There is also money to the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund. As the Departmental Committee on Health, we have tried to have the Fund in place. But our concern is that all this is to support the main vehicle, that is, the UHC through SHIF. There is a problem with SHIF because the main area it will depend on is the informal sector. That is a big sector with an indigent population. Have we clearly defined how we will pick the indigents or how we will access families in the informal sector? For example, a person has 20 matatus and another person has one. They are both in the matatu industry. The question is: Who will pay what? We say eloquently that it will work. I am not sure because we have not seen how it will work. How we implement this is extremely important.

There is always a problem with the link between standards and policy at the national level and implementation at the county level. There is no harmony. The inter-governmental relations mechanisms do not work and so, there is no harmonisation between policy, standards and implementation. This is the devolution issue. There is a State Department for Devolution which has been allocated Ksh4 billion. The question is: If we have the Inter-Governmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC), the Council of Governors (COG), the National and County Governments Coordinating Summit, what does the State Department for Devolution do? I am not clear on what it does. My concern is that we discuss Budget Estimates, pass the Finance Bill and raise the funds but, when the funds are released, do we technically use them? I am very concerned about that.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, look at the issue of electricity in other areas. It is good we have said that each constituency will get Ksh50 million for connectivity, which is one thing. What about the supply of electricity itself? How regular is it? How many times do we get blackouts, even national ones? Businessmen lose a lot of money because of power. When there is a blackout, we do not look at people in the industrial sector. They have to power their businesses through generators which is very expensive, or lose out. A good example is people in the hotel industry.

Even if we do that and allocate money for electrical connectivity, shall we manage it properly? That is an issue.

Regarding roads, we are happy because the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) will continue to be there and funded accordingly. However, we should start by completing the roads that were started, but stalled. Somebody has talked about Mau Mau Roads, but they are everywhere. The low volume sealed roads were not constructed. We will make the budget. Are the people who will use the money do it competently?

Hon. Farah, Hon. Temporary Speaker and Hon. Obara mentioned the issue of equity. In the 11th Parliament, the Budget and Appropriations Committee was disbanded because they had favoured their constituencies. We seem to now think that if you are in the Committee, you can favour yourself. That in terms of equity and integrity….

Hon. Rahab Mukami. Do not worry gentlemen. Lady Members have other national duties outside the House.

You are right, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Thank you. I rise to support the Budget and Appropriations Committee. I am a member of that Committee. I thank the Members of the National Assembly for the support they have given us. We burnt the midnight oil working on this Budget. We tried to balance and cut across all the sectors.

To start with, there is coffee cherry. I come from an area which grows coffee. Our farmers are crying. We have allocated about Ksh4.7 billion for our coffee. I have a passion for school feeding programme. I went to Baringo County for public participation. When we talked to the Members of Parliament and the community, everybody was crying that the children are unable to go to school because majority of them come from vulnerable families which do not have food.

The highest cut went to the Ministry of Education, considering that we have so many Semi- Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs) in that Ministry. We want to promote our teachers who have worked for over 10 years, but have never promoted. There is also the JSS. We allocated money to pay 46,000 teachers, so that they can continue teaching our children. We allocated money for our universities, higher education, Technical, Vocational Education and Training Institutions (TVETs) and Technical Training Institutes (TTIs) .

When we come to energy, we have REREC. I am sure that Members of Parliament from the 290 constituencies are very lucky because each and every constituency will get Ksh50 million for the last mile connectivity. We want to make sure that everybody has electricity. We also want to make sure that our markets have electricity for our mama mbogas and boda boda operators to carry out their businesses of building our economy.

One Member of Parliament complained about the Equalisation Fund. I wanted to tell him that we considered that, and allocated about Ksh12 billion.

The other thing is about trade which is one of the agendas of the Kenya Kwanza administration. We have allocated some Ksh4.6 billion for agro-industries and Kshs1.6 billion for industrial hubs.

We have coffee, cotton and milk in the agricultural sector. We have considered all those people in the agricultural sector. The other thing is about the blue economy. I remember Hon. Millie Odhiambo had passion for it.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am sure you also come from those areas that do fishing. We also have allocated it some money. Many Kenyans are crying of pending bills. We have already allocated Kshs2 billion to pay pending bills. Our dollar was going higher because money is not circulating. We have allocated some money to ensure that our people go back to their businesses.

I wanted to talk about division of revenue because of the county governments. It was not easy for those who went to represent us in our Committee. That is where we decided to allocate Kshs401 billion. We are in support of the county governments. We want to make sure that our health sector works. Our hospitals in Nyeri County do not have MRI machines and medicines. A majority of people are really suffering. They had to come to Nairobi to seek medical care.

On the police service and security, we have our police doing operations and fighting bandits in places like Baringo. We had a concern because the allocated money goes to the National Police Service. We want to tell the Inspector-General of Police to make sure that he distributes money to the Administration Police (AP) and the General Service Unit (GSU) so that our policemen are able to get allowances when they work in those hardship areas.

The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) and fertiliser subsidy is among what we considered because it is raining. We want to make sure that our farmers go back to their shambas to plant.

On the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) and Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), we have so many stalled roads. A Member has mentioned the Mau Mau Roads. There are many others in this country. We want to give that a priority so that we can, at least, finish those roads before we start new projects.

I am a Member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. I really appreciate my colleagues in the Committee. It was not easy for us because we were doing the Supplementary Budget and the main Budget.

I support. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

The Vice-Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, Hon. Mary Emaase.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute.

At the outset, I appreciate the Chairman and the Members of the Budget and Appropriations Committee for the many sleepless nights that we put in perusing through voluminous documents just to ensure that we meet the deadlines and submit a Report to the Floor of this House. I also appreciate the Members, including you, who have spoken and raised very critical questions in relation to the Budget of the Financial Year 2024/2025. This will help to enhance oversight and accountability.

As I mentioned earlier, the focus of this 2024/2025 Financial Year’s Budget is to shrink our expenditure. We should shift our focus to revenue-raising measures once we are done with debate on this Budget. It is sad that we are processing this Budget when the cost of living is still very high and the cost of borrowing remains elevated. The tax burden on Kenyans is still quite high. The number of Kenyans who are defaulting on loans and non-performing loans, is on the increase. So, we need to see how best this Budget can be implemented and managed so that we can reduce the burden on the people.

When we were looking at submissions from the Chairpersons of Departmental Committees, we noticed that there is a weak link between planning and budgeting. Because for us to ensure there is guaranteed growth in a country, we must align our budget to planning. It is only planning that will ensure that we have what we need to wisely allocate our resource that will guarantee growth. That is an area that we need to seriously look into. Some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have budgeted for completely different things and items or projects that are not reflected in the Budget Policy Statement that sets the direction of the Budget, and that is supposed to anchor our estimates. When the agenda of the Kenya Kwanza Government

is on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVETS), and then I see a reduction in the allocation to TVETS, then I know that we have some misplaced priorities. Those are some of the issues we need to take note of.

Secondly, let us look at county governments. We have just approved the mediated version of the Division of Revenue Bill. The average percentage of absorption of development funds is 60 per cent. About 40 per cent of the development revenue remains un-absorbed. So, I want to encourage county governments that, going forward, they need to prioritise development funding. They should start by implementing, and applying development funds and try to absorb as much as they can and take the absorption closer to 100 per cent. It is only through investing that we can achieve growth. We must create employment opportunities for the young people in this country. How are we going to do that if there is no investment and growth? Most of the time, money has not been absorbed, there are delayed exchequer issues and delayed disbursements.

While speaking of the same, we noted that some MDAs are over-ambitious. How do you explain a situation where an MDA is pursuing four or five major projects? And each of the projects is worth Ksh2 billion, Ksh1 billion or Ksh900 million. Yet, when you look at the average allocations consecutive for the last four or five years, the allocation to those projects is Ksh150 million, Ksh200 million or Ksh40 million. Where is the value for money? How then can you guarantee that such an MDA or institution can complete any single of those four or five projects? We advised and made our recommendations as the Budget and Appropriations Committee that there is a need for a department or an agency to just collapse those allocations, and pursue one project to completion, so that we are guaranteed growth, employment creation and all the other benefits that will arise and the multiplier effect that will create other opportunities for the people of Kenya.

Another area that we need to look into is our role of oversight. Today, we have set the figures of what we project to collect and what we will distribute, but we do not have that money. For us to ensure that we reduce the budget deficit so that we minimise the amount we are going to borrow as a country, we must also focus as we do oversight.

On wasteful expenditure, when we look at some of the MDAs again, there are very many overlaps and redundancies. There are so many Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in areas like the water sector. We can cut down on many expenditures, save the money and apply it to other needier areas, thereby reducing how much we borrow as a country. I do not want to get into details as I know my colleagues have spoken on many of those aspects.

On energy, every constituency is now going to get Ksh50 million. This guarantees equity, and it is a good thing. Some areas in our constituencies have never seen power. When I visit some areas in Teso South , people ask me whether they are in Kenya or Uganda. I ask them to relax as we work on giving them power. Today, I am very happy that, at least, every constituency across the country is going to receive Ksh50 million for power, so that we are able to take power to the people.

Let me comment on higher education. The new model needs to be reviewed. Students from my constituency come to me for bursary. They have to re-look at how that money is being awarded. Speaking of equity, how well is it being distributed to ensure that all the students from all regions in this country are getting this money? Monies have been allocated for higher education tuition fees – for university students – but that model needs to be reviewed so that the money gets to all the needy students in this country. I also add that in all other sectors, be it agriculture, energy, information, water and roads, money has been allocated. Members have spoken to those issues. I request the respective ministries to make sure that money is distributed. This is to ensure that my

road from Malaba to Busia is repaired, just like a road in Mombasa or Nairobi, as El Nino has affected all the parts of this country.

With those few remarks, I support.

Hon. Zamzam.

Ahsante sana Mhe. Spika wa Muda kwa kunipa muda huu adimu kuchangia hii Bajeti ya supplementary. Kwanza, kama mama katika hili taifa, nawapongeza kwa kuwawekea wanafunzi chakula shuleni. Kufanya hivyo kutawafanya wakae darasani na wengi ambao wamekaa nyumbani kwa sababu ya matatizo watapata motisha ya kuingia darasani kwa sababu wanajua kuwa kuna chakula. Nimeiangalia Bajeti hii kwa kina sana. Wanakamati wahusika wamejibidiisha kwa sehemu nyingi na kuyaweka vizuri mambo mengi. Napongeza bajeti ambayo imewekewa security. Polisi wetu wameishi maisha magumu kwa muda mrefu. Kwa hivyo, nashukuru kuwa wameongezewa bajeti yao. Lakini pia waangaliwe vizuri. Isije ikawa bajeti hizi zinapitishwa lakini zinaishia kwenye mifuko ya watu.

Kuhusu masuala ya elimu, juzi nimekuwa na walimu kutoka Kaunti ya Mombasa na wamelia sana kwa sababu wameachwa katika hali duni sana. Iweze kueleweka kwamba walimu ndio wanaotuletea maprofesa, madaktari na kila aina ya ujuzi katika taifa hili. Licha ya haya yote, walimu wanaishi maisha magumu sana, hasa tukizingatia kwamba ni juzi tu tumeanza mfumo wa elimu wa Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) . Mheshimiwa Naibu Spika wa Muda, Rais alitoa nafasi 56,000 za walimu na tukaona kwamba zingine zinatolewa kwenye matanga na zingine katika sherehe tofauti wakati ambapo kuna walimu ambao wamejitolea kuwafunza watoto wetu wa Junior Secondary Schools na hawajapata nafasi hizo. Haswa mimi napigania walimu wangu wa Mombasa. Imekuwa dhahiri kwamba Mombasa hatukuziona. Mimi namwambia Rais kwamba ni kweli pengine anajibidiisha kufanya kazi nzuri lakini aangalie nafasi hizi akizitoa zinagawanywa vipi ili kila sehemu ya taifa hili iweze kuona matunda ya mambo ambayo Rais anayafanya.

Nimeangalia Bajeti hii nikaona Ofisi ya Makamu wa Rais inaongezwa pesa nyingi sana – Ksh400 milioni – kukidhi mahitaji ya vita dhidi ya mihadarati. Nikiwa mama kutoka Jimbo la Mombasa, najua kwamba mihadarati imejaa kabisa katika sehemu ile. Tulimwona hivi majuzi Naibu wa Rais alikwenda kule na kuzungumza juu juu. Sasa tunauliza, kama bajeti kama hii iko, na imeongezewa Ksh400 milioni, kwa nini wale wanaoingiza mihadarati nchini kutoka mataifa ya nje hawashikwi?

Sisi pia tunapigana vita dhidi ya yale matawi ya muguka lakini wanatuuliza sisi ni kwa nini kuna mihadarati katika Jimbo la Mombasa? Bajeti ya Ofisi ya Naibu wa Rais imeongezewa kwa Ksh400 milioni. Bajeti ya Wizara ya mambo ya ndani na usalama pia imeongezwa ili kuwezesha vyombo vya usalama kupigana na mambo hayo. Je, pesa hizo zote zinakwenda wapi? Mihadarati inaendelea kuuzwa ndani ya Jimbo la Mombasa. Watoto wetu wanabadilishwa kuwa mazezeta. Watoto wetu hawaoi. Hawana wake na wanaambua hadi asubuhi kila usiku. Wanaongeza vileo vingine wakati bajeti inapitisha pesa nyingi hivi.

Nikiangalia Bajeti hii, naona kwamba youth empowerment haijashuhulikiwa kamwe. Vijana hawajatengewa pesa zozote. Hao ni vijana ambao tutarudi kwao kuwaomba kura. Lakini Ofisi ya Makamu wa Rais inaongezewa mabilioni ya pesa – pesa zingine ni za starehe, zingine ni za mandazi na kadhalika. Nimeona Mheshimiwa hapa akisema kuwa Kisumu ama Nyanza wameongezewa pesa za blue economy. Tumeongezewa pesa za samaki. Angalia idadi ya ile pesa na ulinganishe na pesa ambazo zimetengewa starehe. Haingii akilini mwangu ni kwa nini sehemu ya kukuza uchumi inapewa pesa kidogo ilhali starehe zinapewa bajeti kubwa. Hii ni hujuma!

Ukiangalia utaona kwamba yule anayekusanya ushuru ameongezewa Ksh10 bilioni. Je, ameongezewa akakusanye ushuru wapi ikiwa sehemu za mazao zinadidimishwa kwenye bajeti?

Inafaa tuweke bajeti nzuri kwenye sekta ya madini, ambayo inatupa pesa. Pale pana pesa nyingi ambazo zitainua uchumi wa Kenya, lakini bajeti yake imepunguzwa. Uchimbaji wa madini uko Mkoa wa Pwani. Naangalia vitu hivi na ninajiuliza maswali mengi sana. Ni kwa nini sekta za starehe, ambazo hazizalishi chochote, zinapewa pesa nyingi zaidi kuliko sekta ambazo zinazalisha na kuchangia kukua kwa uchumi?

Pia, naona kuna sehemu ambazo kunasemekana watu wataweza kupewa fidia kwa mashamba, na pia kuna pesa ambazo zimetengewa watu wetu wa Mombasa kule Kisauni na Taita Taveta, ambao walikuwa hawana makao katika mashamba. Lakini nikiangalia hapa, fidia imewekewa Ksh400 milioni peke yake, ilhali huku kwingine pesa za mandazi ni mabilioni ya pesa. Sasa tunajiuliza, haya makadirio, hivi vikao wanapokaa, wanaangalia mikoa ama wanaangalia kitu gani?

Kwa sababu naona katika kaunti za Pwani, tumefinywa sana katika Bajeti hii. Ni lazima niseme kama Mama wa Kaunti ya Mombasa. Ila nashukuru kuwa wamesema watatujengea soko la samaki kwa gharama ya Ksh35 milioni.

Hata hivyo, ukiangalia makadirio ya bajeti sehemu zingine, pesa ziko nyingi lakini si sehemu ambazo zinaweza kujenga taifa wala kuleta mazao.

Naona wamepunguza Ksh75 milioni. Ningependa hao wakulima waongezewe pesa maradufu kwa sababu ukulima ndio uti wa mgongo wa uchumi wa taifa hili. Nimeskia wakitaja mimea kutoka sehemu moja tu kama kahawa na majani chai, lakini hawajataja nazi, korosho na mazao kutoka sehemu zingine. Inafaa tusawazishe ugavi wa raslimali zetu. Juzi tu, niliona kuwa Kaunti ya Mombasa ndio namba moja katika ukusanyaji wa ushuru. Sisi ndio tunaokusanya ushuru mwingi, lakini sisi ndio tunaopata pesa kidogo. Hii ni hujuma! Dadangu Mhe. Emaase, naona ni kama mmevutia upande wenu sana. Nawaomba muangalie Kenya nzima. Ndio maana wengine hapa wanasisitiza tutumie mfumo wa one-man, one-shilling, one-vote tunapogawanya hela za umma. Kun’kucha na makucha yake kwa sababu hili ni jambo ambalo tumelizungumzia kutoka hapo awali.

Ugavi uwe sawa sawa kwa watu wote. Wacha Wakenya wote walio Mombasa, North- Eastern na Homa Bay wapate mgao sawa. Hata hivyo, ni vyema tuangalie sehemu ambazo zimebaki nyuma kimaendeleo. Ningependa kukupigia pundo Mhe. Spika wa Muda kwa kuwa ulizungumza na kusema kuwa Homa Bay hakuna barabara. Nilikuwa sijafika huko bado na nilikwenda huko juzi na barabara ni mbovu zaidi. La kushangaza ni kwamba utapata Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Bajeti na Uidhinishaji wa Matumizi amepatia eneo Bunge moja mabilioni ya pesa za kujenga barabara, na kwingineko hakujapewa chochote. Ikiwa tunataka kukuza uchumi wa Kenya kupitia Bajeti hii, basi tuweke pesa katika sehemu hitajika. Tukiwekeza katika sekta za starehe, basi tutazidi kudaiwa kila siku. Ushuru umeongezeka, na gharama ya maisha imepanda lakini bado Mkenya anadaiwa. Ingekuwa vyema kama Wakenya wangeweza kufurahia kwa kuona kuwa ingawaje ushuru umepanda, wanaona mabadiliko. Lakini tumeskia Mwanakamati mmoja akisema kuwa ushuru unazidi kuenda juu, Wakenya wanazidi kulia, lakini pia deni linazidi kuongezeka.

Ningependa kuishauri Kamati ya Bajeti na Uidhinishaji wa Matumizi isimwangushe Rais kwa kuwa anatia bidii sana. Mnapoketi, angalieni mnatoa pesa katika sekta zipi. Vijana wetu wanahitaji pesa za biashara ili tukuze uchumi.

Nawapongeza sana kwa kutilia maanani matibabu ya cancer na mambo mengine katika sekta ya afya. Mimi ni mama ambaye husifia mambo yakienda vizuri na kukashifu yakienda mrama. Kwa hivyo, itakuwa ni vyema wanapofidia watu wengine, pia wakumbuke wakazi wa

Mwembakuku na Bondeni. Watu hao wamengoja sana kupata mashamba yao. Naomba wakumbukwe manake wote ni walipa ushuru.

Mhe. Spika wa Muda, naona muda umeyoyoma na naona mwenzagu anataka kuchangia. Pia, tupatie watoto chakula katika maeneo ya North-Eastern manake ni nomads. Hawa ni wenzetu na ndugu zetu. Upande wetu wa Pwani, kwa mambo ya agriculture na pia tuna mashamba.

Kwingineko, nimeona wakulima wa muguka wamepewa Ksh500 milioni ilhali sisi tumepewa Kshs400 milioni kupigana na dawa za kulevya - wakati muguka unakuja Mombasa. Pesa hizo zikija, zitengewe kupigana na drugs zote. Mhe. Ruku, najua alinionea vibaya jana lakini mimi namwambia ukweli. Pesa zikitengwa kupigana na drugs, basi zitumiwe kupigana na drugs zote kama vile muguka, miraa na bhangi. Watoto wetu hawazai.

Mhe. Spika wa Muda, langu limegonga na naenda zangu. Ahsante sana kwa kunipatia nafasi hii. Usimpe Mhe. Ruku ruhusa kujibu manaake tutapigana!

Can we have the Member for Igembe North, Hon. Julius Taitumu? I will give you more time beyond the 10 minutes, if you want.

Proceed.

Thank you…

He will be followed by Hon. Ruku AND then Hon. Alpha Miruka. Do not be constrained because you have waited up to now. Take all your time.

Thank you, Hon Temporary Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to make my submissions on the Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2024/2025. I wholly support them because they have a lot of positive attributes. I want to thank the Budget and Appropriations Committee for the work well done.

In particular, I want to single out the energy sector. To start with, every constituency has been allocated Ksh50 million. I have reservations on the distribution of this allocation. It should be guided by the connectivity levels in the sub-counties. Regarding the education sector, the Budget and Appropriations Committee did very well by appropriating money for employing Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers. Most Members of Parliament have been mishandled by those teachers for failing to assist them to get employment.

A sum of Ksh5 billion has been allocated. Priority should be given to teachers in the order of the year they graduated from teacher training colleges so that justice is seen to be done to the teachers of this country. The same sector was given funds for the school feeding programme. That is good because it was perturbing to note that, in the Budget Policy Statement, those funds had been withdrawn. That was in bad taste. I want to thank the Committee for this so that children from marginalised areas can be given food. The areas that are set to benefit should be mapped. Today, many sub-counties and constituencies require the school feeding program.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) should make it clear during employment or recruitment of interns that a policy is in place. That way, teachers will know how long they will serve as interns. They should know whether it is six months or one year. The unemployment issue will cause ripples in this country and that will encourage teachers to demonstrate.

The agriculture sector is the backbone of our economy. So, more resources have been allocated to the production sector. A sum of Ksh1 billion has been allocated for restocking. I want to put it clear that I represent Igembe North Constituency, which is surrounded by the marginalised communities. Our neighbours are the Borana from Isiolo, who lost most of their cattle through the cattle rustling menace that is being experienced in that area. Those people should be given the first opportunity when the restocking process starts. Cattle rustlers have been raiding other sub-counties to do illegal restocking. Those who lost their animals through those raids should be the first to be restocked. People living in the entire North Meru section in Tigania and Igembe lost most of their cattle through those raids.

I have also noted that the road sector got increased funding. I implore the Ministry to compel the contractors to go back to the sites and finish the roads that they left unattended. This will ensure that the consumers of those services enjoy better roads in this country.

Money has been allocated majorly to the Primary Health Care. That is a good move to make sure that by promoting Primary Health Care, most of the diseases will be tamed – particularly killer disease like cancer, which is ravaging many families in terms of resources and straining the economy.

On the issue of police equipment modernisation, this is the right direction. Through modernising the police equipment, the cattle rustling menace will be reduced. This is because the mobility of the police officers will be enhanced. They will be in a position to combat raiders who have sophisticated weapons that they use to terrorise those who are not properly endowed in terms of weapons.

More money has been given to the quality assurance and standards officers to make sure that they oversee the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which has a lot of challenges. That will ensure that they visit various schools and monitor what is happening there and ensure that the system is streamlined.

With those few remarks, I support this budget policy direction.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

You have less than ten minutes. Proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I would like to start by congratulating the Budget and Appropriations Committee led by Hon. Ndindi Nyoro, and all the Members of the Committee, for the great work they have done. They have shown commitment to this nation. We thank them for the services that they are rendering to the nation.

The Budget Statement starts by outlining the comments from the Cabinet Secretary in charge of the National Treasury. He says that he has verified the pending bills and is trying to integrate them in the Integrated Financial Management Information System. He is trying to propose the restructuring of the National Drought Management Authority to National Disaster Management Authority. This underpins the importance of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury as far as the budgeting processes, financing and the growth of our economy is concerned.

Having said that, the Department for Economic Planning within the National Treasury is extremely important. At some point during the reign of the late President Kibaki, that Department was a substantive ministry for economic and national planning. If you look at the money allocated

to this very important docket, you realize that there is quite a lot that has been cut, which is okay. Most departments have reduced their budgets in line with the Kenya Kwanza Administration’s policy of cutting expenditure and managing Government affairs within the revenues we can raise as a nation.

It is very important to stress the point that national and economic planning is a very important docket for this nation. We are seeing a situation where synchronisation of national planning vis-à-vis the budgeting process is not well mainstreamed, and we may get it wrong in the process. We need to look at the mosaic of national development instead of looking at project-based development. Our Budget is project-based. We have to call upon the Cabinet Secretary in charge of national planning to ensure that, in the coming years, we do not debate project-based budgets. We want to debate budgets which are mosaic pictures of the entire development plan of our nation so that all the regions and economic sectors can be well integrated and mainstreamed in the budgeting processes to achieve the level of economic growth that the Kenya Kwanza Administration envisages. Otherwise, we will continue to lag behind in terms of economic growth.

I thank the Budget and Appropriations Committee for ensuring that the children of this nation, who come from all corners of the country that experience harsh economic realities, especially children of Mbeere North which I represent, will continue to enjoy the school-feeding programme under the National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK). It was extremely painful when we heard that the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning was thinking of terminating the programme. In different corners of this country, there are extremely poor situations and extremely dilapidated schools. Many young children come from very poor families and they depend on the school-feeding programme. This is a programme which needs to be entrenched properly until this nation becomes not only a middle- income economy, but a developed nation. By so doing, we will ensure that every child can afford a meal in school and can afford to go to a better school. This programme is very important. We are proud of the Committee for ensuring that it is well enshrined.

I note with concern the reduction of the budgetary allocation for secondary education for ICT and infrastructure development. Education is the only equaliser which can make any Kenyan from any walk of life to go to any part of the world to serve humanity. As far as we are concerned, the education budget is critical. Technocrats at the Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning should be cautious not to reduce the education budget, be it tertiary, university, primary or secondary school education. Education is key. We better cut the budgets of other areas but not for the education sector. The education sector is under-funded. There are dilapidated primary and secondary schools in our constituencies. The NG-CDF is not enough to ensure that all the children sit and learn in a conducive environment. Reduction of the budget in the Ministry of Education is a worrying trend.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, in urban and metropolitan development, we have seen serious disasters because of excessive rainfall. Some of those disasters are attributable to poor urban development. Urban development is not properly integrated with planning, thus the flooding within our urban centres. It is possible for the population to live in tandem with rivers and water. It is not a must that every time we have heavy rainfall, people should die and houses swept away or transportation hampered. Human beings can coexist with rainfall. This can only be achieved if urban and metropolitan development is given a keener eye. At the moment, we have seen serious cuts as far as that department is concerned. As we try to live within our budget, it is important to consider whether to reduce allocations. Technocrats should save the future of our children. We saw schools being closed down because of poor urban development.

On the State Department for Labour and Skills Development, the Kenya Kwanza Administration is keen on looking for jobs not only locally, but also internationally for Kenyans who want to work abroad. However, there is a serious under-funding of the State Department for Labour and Skills Development.

Integrated regional development is key and should be championed. Because of lack of understanding of integrated regional development, we have lately seen a serious rift between the coastal counties and Embu, Kirinyaga and Makueni counties, which grow muguka. It is important to make it clear that integrated regional development cannot be achieved if there are inter-county trade wars. The latter must be discouraged by all means. The State Department for ASALs and Regional Development needs to be activated and re-energised so that counties can understand that inter-county conflicts will not lead this country in the right direction. The issue of county governors waking up and banning one crop arbitrary without any justification as far as the laws of this land are concerned, is something that should be condemned and it should not be encouraged at all.

Lastly, it is important for the technocrats within the National Treasury to know that they have a serious obligation. This House has a cardinal responsibility of appropriating money across the different State departments and Government agencies for running the Government. The national Treasury technocrats should also burn the midnight oil to come up with appropriate fiscal policies and ideas of economic planning that can ensure the economic stability and prosperity of our nation.

With those many remarks, I congratulate the Budget and Appropriations Committee again for the good work that they are doing. However, as they do their work, they have to keep on stressing to the National Treasury again and again that they have a lot of work to do. We need to see serious work for the sake of our nation.

I support.

Hon. Alfah Miruka, are you ready or we have Hon. Mwirigi first? If you are ready, proceed.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I have waited patiently. Before Hon. Mwirigi speaks, let me give my input on this very interesting Motion on the Budget Estimates for Financial Year 2024/2025.

For the first time in the 13th Parliament, I have seen a change in the budget-making process. In the last two financial years, the Budget has been skewed to specific points and areas without considering other areas. Remember, we are the people who make the budget and interrogate budget proposals from departmental heads. However, you will find that a budget cycle ends without a Member getting even one project done and yet, we are the ones who pass the budget in this House.

On the Budget Estimates for Financial Year 2024/2025, I want to point out three key areas that I have seen as progressive in budget-making by the Budget and Appropriations Committee. They have made me say that they have done some good work this time round. One is on electricity. It is the first time we are having Ksh50 million allocated to each constituency to have new connectivity to villages as a top-up on the existing one. Remember, in the last financial year, we approved a budgetary allocation for the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) for electrification across the country. However, some constituencies have had a lot of money while others have not had even one transformer the entire financial year. This Budget has cured that problem by allocating Ksh50 million to each constituency. That is a credit to this year’s Budget. I want this to be an affirmative action so that it is progressive. Next year, this entity’s budget should increase from Ksh50 million to Ksh100 million, and in the following year, from

Ksh100 million to Ksh150 million. That way, we will be approaching zero-mile connectivity in our village homes where everyone will be connected to power.

On roads, I heard you when you were on the Floor contributing, say that in the last Financial Year, there was no allocation for Homa Bay Constituency for roads. I beg to differ. Among the agencies that have affirmative action that every town must have something in every financial year is the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA). Every constituency receives 22 per cent and 10 per cent yearly from KURA. How I wish that would be progressive.

The next thing we will be doing is to pass the Finance Bill. The other Finance Bill was to increase the tax collection base. We are going to approve another one to increase the base of tax collection from other areas. Everybody is now going to be affected in terms of taxation. The services should be spread to every village so that the mwananchi can forget the pain of taxation when he or she sees education, electricity connectivity and road networks. He will not remember that he is being taxed.

Concerning the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), on top of the 22 per cent we receive for maintenance of roads, I hope every constituency will have five tarmac roads next time we pass a budget. That way, every Member of Parliament in the 290 Constituencies will have, at least, 5km of tarmac road if that happens. That will be progressive. That will show equity allocation from the Budget across constituencies and communities and everyone will enjoy the benefit of passing a budget that affects every community that is represented in this House.

I can confirm that the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) has yearly maintenance money, including for Homa Bay County. Funding is the challenge. I have not interrogated pending bills well. We have many ongoing road projects. I hope this Budget is going to solve the mess of projects stalling due to lack of funding. I can testify that most projects have stalled for the last four financial years despite the fact that we pass a Budget here every year. We have failed to carry our burden. You will find a Member of Parliament with a road that has stalled for five years and yet, we pass a budget here every year. We should change the tradition of making the budget.

Let me pick the NG-CDF as an example. We conduct public participation when we make proposals for the NG-CDF. We go to every ward and village. People are called to identify areas for projects and the nature of projects they want. I wish this Budget was extremely extensive on recurrent and development expenditure in every ministry. We should have a structure like the Nyumba Kumi model, that is incorporating assistant chiefs up to the presidency. We should have structures to identify projects in agriculture, education, employment and youth development.

For instance, there is an additional Ksh100 million allocation to the Youth Enterprise Fund in item 1135. It is not enough if you to sit down to calculate and split this amount among the 290 constituencies, where every village has a youth. Yes, it is okay because it is a starting point. However, we should be progressive to know that every youth in this country comes from a village. How can we have a budget that touches everybody across villages in the Republic of Kenya?

That means this is a step forward Budget that is trying to reach the common mwananchi’s needs. Progressively, I request this House to create a formula. Before we come to discuss the final estimates in our departmental committees, we should create a forum where every Member of Parliament interrogates activities of every ministry in their constituency. What has the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development done in a budget cycle of one year? It should give an account. That way, no one will complain about projects running in some constituencies and not in others.

There is an addition of Ksh30 million to the NG-CDF. I give credit to the Budget and Appropriations Committee for remembering that the NG-CDF is the only money that the common mwananchi feels on the ground. Although we keep saying that devolution is working, I can confirm that constituents in the village only enjoy bursaries, education, construction of classrooms and other development programmes that are funded through the NG-CDF. Yet, we keep funding the county governments massively. The county governments have more ministries and departments dealing with agriculture, health and other sectors. You go to the health centre in your village and find it the same way it was 10 years ago. You pass the budget, but there is no money for its improvement. I do not know how. The budget’s problem is its implementation. We should enhance the way we implement our budgets in every aspect, including quarterly allocation or allocations to departments across the country. That will ensure that even if we increase taxation the way we want and tax our people left, right and centre, they access public services and nobody will complain.

We have two things that touch everybody in Kenya. Number one is education and number two is health. I support the budgetary allocation making sure that the school feeding programme is on course and is not removed. How I wish that in actual implementation, the school feeding programme is actualised. We may pass a budget with a lot of money for the school feeding programme, but other schools may not benefit. Again, we may find schools in the Republic of Kenya in this era where, despite the fact that we have the NG-CDF and the Ministry of Education’s presence, learners still learn under trees. This Budget is trying to increase the funding to the NG- CDF by Ksh30 million. It is very critical to enhance education mostly because almost 60 per cent of the NG-CDF goes to education in terms of bursaries and infrastructure development.

Another area we should consider in future is the bursary. We have bursaries from the national Government and there are bursaries in the county governments. To me, that is a duplication of duties. For example, the additional Ksh30 million is one step ahead for NG-CDF. Now, every Member is going to get more than Ksh180 million per a financial year. The county governments get a lot of money but, if you find a Member of Parliament who has calculated and analysed the students well, every student will get a bit of NG-CDF allocation from the national Government through the bursary kitty. When it comes to the county government bursary, you find that in a whole ward, only 20 children are given bursaries compared to the NG-CDF kitty, which ensures that between 90 and 100 per cent of the applicants get bursaries in a constituency. I am trying to express the core reason because the implementation of the budgets that we pass here is the problem. How I wish we upgraded it and changed our policies and regulations to make sure that everything we are doing and passing here is going to be actualised at the end of the day.

This time around, the Budget and Appropriations Committee has done a wonderful job by trying to cure some historical problems that keep on recurring. I want to agree that the President is making a lot of changes in terms of health. He is overhauling the entire health sector, but I am trying to figure out if the new system that is going to be put in place will cure the problems that we have. If you go to a level 4 hospital, you find that it does not even have a qualified gynaecologist or a doctor who will prescribe medication or procedure for a patient in the right way. If you go to Nairobi Hospital, you will find every career doctor there. Why? Because there is a lot of money there. Let us cure this health problem by providing more money in the health sector and streamlining our services to ensure that, if you pop at any hospital within Kenya, you can get the right services.

Countries in the developed world, like the United States of America and others, have prioritised health because they know that it is a key area that everybody is working on. In that connection, let us keep progressing to ensure that this is implemented in the right way, so that

people have confidence in the budget-making process. We read budgets every year in terms of trillions. Therefore, it is crucial to make people understand the significance of those trillions both on paper and in practice.

Another very key area which is important for me are the constituency hubs within the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy. There is an additional Ksh100 million for the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, and now there will be constituency hubs where every ward is going to have one. We have allocated money in the National-Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) from the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy to construct a digital hub in every constituency. This is a step forward for connectivity of internet and exposure for our young people and other people in the villages. Remember, it is very hard to find people with access to Wi-Fi. It is a problem but, if those public hotspots Wi-Fi digital hubs in every ward are actualised, this country is going to move and we are going to see more things happening in more areas that are going to affect the welfare of our young people and within ourselves.

I support this budget this time around. How I wish key areas that are affected in the daily running of events were catered for. I hope the affirmative action that we have in the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) has been introduced in education, whereby we have a constant figure every year that goes to bursaries based on the analysis on every secondary school in our villages on how many Form IV students are there, and whether the national funds from the Ministry of Education are not enough, we supplement from the NG-CDF. That means the national funds from NG-CDF and those from the Ministry of Education will solve the problems of students in Form IV, so that they can run the entire year without having a problem of school fees and will be able to settle down and do proper revision for exams.

With those many remarks, and because I want to spare some time for other Members to speak, I support.

Thank you very much, Hon. Alfah Miruka. Hon. Paul Mwirigi, you have the privilege of taking the House to the hour. The hour will be 9.30 p.m. Address the nation on the Budget Statement for Financial Year 2024/2025.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I stand to support the Budget for the next Financial Year.

The Budget and Appropriations Committee has addressed the needs of Kenyans. Many issues have been captured in this Budget carefully; while considering the concerns of the people of this Republic.

First and foremost, in the education sector, the Committee has reinstated the school feeding program, which had previously been scrapped. This is good news for Kenyan pupils as many of them were worried that they would not be able to continue with their education due to lack of food. They should now know that the funds will be available.

On the education sector also, there is a model of education which was introduced called JSS. Most of the schools have not had enough teachers but, in these Budget Estimates, there is some allocation to ensure that all the JSS intern teachers are absorbed. Most of the JSS intern teachers are doing a commendable job to ensure that our learners who have graduated to Grade 6 and above are getting education. This is good news for our intern teachers. They have been on strike demanding that the Government employs them on permanent and pensionable terms. This programme will ensure that they are employed and are productive in the education sector.

In the area of students attending higher education in universities, we have allocated enough funds to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) . This will facilitate them to continue with

their education. We are aware that most of the students who undertake their courses in the universities come from very poor backgrounds. Therefore, those funds will facilitate them to continue with their education so that they better their lives. This gives them hope that one day, they will be important and productive people in this nation.

The second sector which has been looked into is agriculture. This contributes a lot as far as the economy of this nation is concerned. There are enough funds to facilitate the agriculture sector to ensure that our farmers produce enough for this nation and for export. We have had issues from this Ministry whereby this nation imports maize. However, there is some money which has been factored in the Budget to facilitate the fertiliser subsidy programme so that farmers can have bumper harvests from their farms.

This Budget has also factored in stipend money for the elderly. There is the Inua Jamii Programme, which facilitates cash transfer to our elderly population. They should know that the Budget for the next financial year has provision for the money they are given at the end of every month.

This Budget has not left out the NG-CDF. This is one of the critical development areas within this nation. Most of the development projects which Kenyans see on the ground have been implemented through the NG-CDF. In this Budget, the funds have been increased such that most of the constituencies will get between Ksh180 and Ksh220 million for development. That means our constituencies will highly be developed since most of the projects we undertake are in line with education. We should remember that most learners rely on the NG-CDF) bursary kitties across the constituencies. That is why the funds in the next financial year have been increased.

The health sector is also going to be adequately funded through these Budget Estimates. The funds will help in the improvement of our health facilities across the country. I can see that the Linda Mama Programme has also been considered. So, our women have something to be happy about since this program is meant for them. Regarding the Universal Health Care, some people are unable to contribute towards health insurance. Therefore, they will be catered for using these funds. This is a good Bill because it will ensure that the nation develops in the next financial year. Also, some of the pending bills have been catered for in these Budget Estimates.

Regarding the transport sector, funds have been allocated to help kick-start stalled projects. Another key sector that is catered for in these Budget Estimates is energy. The Budget and Appropriations Committee has ensured that all the 290 constituencies are considered and each will get Ksh50 million. That means most areas which are not connected to electricity will be considered. So, the people will enjoy electricity since there is enough money to fund that sector.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. With those few remarks, I beg to support.

Just a minute, Hon. Mwirigi. You have spoken on the matter of bursaries. You have also appreciated the Budget and Appropriations Committee for increasing the NG-CDF allocation. Tell the nation, on average, what a needy student in your constituency gets. Also, tell us about the state of the Mau Mau roads, which were initiated during the time of President Kenyatta. How far are they in terms of completion now that you are crying that stalled projects should be completed?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. My people in Igembe South Constituency have something to be happy about in as far as these Budget Estimates are concerned. Some roads in my constituency have stalled. Yesterday, some of my constituents from Athiru were threatening to hold demonstration next week. However, I want to tell them that the road from Maua-Athiru-Meru National Park has been provided for in these Budget Estimates, and that they should expect the project that had stalled to be kick-started.

On the issue of bursary, I give my needy students in boarding schools Ksh10,000 each while those in day schools get Ksh5,000 each. This year, I have sponsored over 600 needy students. The enhanced allocation to the NG-CDF in this Budget will help me to sponsor more students.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Order, Hon. Members. I am grateful to those Members who have taken time to contribute to the Motion on the Budget Estimates, which is a critical function of this House. That is why we are here up to this late in the evening. The debate on this Motion will be continued tomorrow.

Hon. Members, the House stands adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, 6th June 2024 at 9.30 a.m.

The House rose at 9.26 p.m.

Published by Clerk of the National Assembly Parliament Buildings Nairobi