Ministries appeal for more funding

By Philip Mwakio

A committee of the National Assembly has asked the Government to give adequate money to the Ministries of East African Community, Commerce and Tourism and Industrialisation and Enterprise Development to enable them achieve their mandates.

Speaking in Mombasa during a retreat of the House committee on Trade, Finance and Planning, chairman Benjamin Lagat said the two ministries need to be supported to enable them generate enough income.

“These two ministries are key to Kenya’s quest for self-dependence as they can generate the much needed revenues to create resources which can turnaround the fortunes of the country,’’ he said. He, however, pointed out there was need for the two ministries to ensure they adopt radical measures to reduce number of agencies doing the same work.

Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Commerce and East African Affairs Phyllis Kandie said the two ministries are critical to the attainment of Kenya’s development objectives.

Kandie added that if Kenya is to move to the next level in its industrial development and join other emerging middle-income economies, the two ministries must execute a coherent and sustainable plan to drive forward the Kenyan economy. She pointed out that Kenya’s economy is relatively strong in comparison to other Eastern Africa regional economies. “We have a relatively vibrant industrial manufacturing sector with several Kenyan-owned banks increasing their penetration of the larger East African Community,” she said.

Kandie, who was flanked by her two Principal Secretaries Mwanamaka Mabruki (East Africa Community) and Ibrahim Mohamed ( Tourism and Commerce) said that the tourism industry  continues to defy odds against the ever increasing threats and attendant negative travel advisories.

“We are blessed with having the best-trained personnel through our premier college, Utalii, and other institutions continue to tap from the institution’s graduates for expertise in their operations,” she said.

But Kandie said despite the positive trends, Kenya needs not be complacent.

Cabinet Secretary for  Industrialisation and Enterprise Development Adan Mohamed said tourism and industrialisation generate about 90 per cent of  revenue  yet their budgetary allocation is about 1 per cent.

“My ministry has a capital of Sh7 billion allocation but it requires Sh30 billion to effectively achieve targets we have set,’’ he said.