Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1013894,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1013894/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 21,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Khaniri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 171,
        "legal_name": "George Munyasa Khaniri",
        "slug": "george-khaniri"
    },
    "content": "I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for the opportunity. I also hail Mr. Elkanah Kitur for having confidence in the Senate to resolve this matter. I also thank my good neighbour, Sen. Cherargei, for bringing the Petition on behalf of Mr. Kitur. This is not a unique case to Mr. Kitur or to Nandi County. This is widespread. There are cases where peasant farmers supplied their produce to schools, but they have not been paid up to now. There are cases where small business men - I do not want to call them hustlers - in the villages borrowed money from the banks and made various supplies to schools. Loans are accruing interest, but they have not been paid. Eventually when the money is paid, I do not think that it will be put into consideration that their loans accrued interest. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we have been following events all over the word during this season of the COVID-19. I know that all over the world, many governments cushioned their small scale business people. As a country, we received a lot of money in support of the fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic. Besides this money being used to buy medical equipment and provide treatment, it was expected that small businessmen would be cushioned as well, just like it happened in many other jurisdictions. I want to urge the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, that this Petition will be directed to, to expedite, as Sen. Wambua said, so that we can alleviate the suffering that these people are going through. Sen. Wambua and Sen. Murkomen have captured very well the issues that I wanted to capture. First of all, according to the Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Act, which also applies to schools, because they are also public institutions, any purchases of procurement must be done on budget and monies that are there. Saying that the suppliers cannot be paid because COVID-19 came in should not arise at all. This should raise a lot of audit queries in these particular institutions. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we want the Committee to recommend for immediate payment of these particular suppliers. They should also recommend that the Government comes in to cushion the schools and traders. I agree with prayers that are contained in the Petition. These are things that are achievable. Therefore, I want to encourage the Committee to come to the rescue of these poor farmers and businessmen. I support."
}