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{
    "id": 1000640,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1000640/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 1288,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kikuyu, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1835,
        "legal_name": "Anthony Kimani Ichung'Wah",
        "slug": "anthony-kimani-ichungwah"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Deputy Speaker, you will remember that when the Budget Estimates were tabled at the end of April this year, I made a Statement that raised concerns since the national Government had tabled Estimates of a very ordinary Budget under very extraordinary circumstances. We took issue with the fact that the Estimates tabled then did not reflect the realities of our economy and country today. I am glad that following this, robust engagements between MPs and members of the public through our various Committees and other fora... The National Government, through His Excellency the President, was able to come back to this House and present an amended version to the Estimates. This created an economic stimulus package of about Ksh53 billion which is a good thing for a start. It is small for an economy like this, but it is a good start. Therefore, the challenge we are faced with as a country today is to be able to utilise the Kshs53 billion to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 on our economy and the humanitarian and economic crisis that this pandemic has caused. Secondly, is to be able to use this package to stimulate economic growth. I appreciate what the Member for Mogotio is asking about – the pending bills. The Member for Mogotio, if you read the Report you will see at point number 15 we are speaking about the question of pending bills, appreciating as a Committee, that this is a matter that none other than His Excellency the President pronounced himself on as early as June 2019, and directed all MDAs of the national Government including county governments to settle pending bills. It is in our statutes that pending bills are the first charge to our Exchequer. That has not been honoured, and indeed, in Clause 15 of this Report, we are proposing that maybe it is time. The Member for Mogotio took the challenge from this Report and proposed legislation that will criminalise the non-payment of pending bills by Government officers."
}