The government's plan to purchase Sh140 billion military attack choppers is a waste when Kenyans are suffering economic hardships, Lugari MP Ayub Savula has said.
Speaking at Etenje UPC church during a fundraiser on Saturday, Savula said the planned purchase is misplaced since the country is not at war.
“This is being insensitive to the plight of the people. The money should have been used on well-equipped cancer centres and to inject cash in struggling state-owned sugar millers such as Mumias and Nzoia to create jobs for the numerous youths in our streets,” he said.
The MP said Kenyans were suffering, citing inadequate medicine in public hospitals. He said youths are committing suicide because of economic hardships and urged the government to channel the money to services since there is no emergency.
Kenya’s military spending last year stood at Sh109.7 billion exceeding the amount spent by neighbours Tanzania and Uganda combined, according to a global report released last year. This pushed the country's defence bill to the sixth-largest in Africa.
If the military acquires the six MD530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters, the country will have spent Sh250 billion on upgrading its airpower in three years.
The KDF was reported to be readying to receive the choppers from an American company.
Meanwhile, Savula said Kenyans will only support constitutional amendments that reduce their economic burden.
He said Kenyans will keenly look at the Building Bridges Initiative fronted by President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, the Punguza Mizigo by the Thirdway Alliance and the Council of Governors’ Ugatuzi initiative.
They will back the one that will bring more funds to counties without increasing the burden, he said.
“We are not going to support any referendum that aims at creating positions for individuals. We want constitutional changes but we are opposed to a referendum that will add a burden on the people."
Edited by R.Wamochie
