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{
"id": 1021438,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1021438/?format=api",
"text_counter": 14,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Business Committee, I undertake that the Committee will prioritise the consideration of the Senate’s Amendments to the Bill, in accordance with Standing Orders 145 to 148, once the Schedule of the Senate’s Amendments is received in this House. In the unlikely event that there is inordinate delay in the consideration and passage of the Bill by the Senate, the Budget and Appropriations Committee further stands directed to urgently cause the publication and introduction of a Bill proposing amendments to the Public Finance Management Act, 2012 to cater for interim disbursements to the county governments, pending the enactment of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill. Hon. Members, in conclusion, I wish to thank the Leader of the Minority Party for his laudable effort in seeking to address an issue that certainly threatens to cripple the effective functioning of our devolved system of government. Though I note that his Motion, may indeed, be admissible in the event that the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (National Assembly Bill No.63 of 2019) is passed with appropriate amendments and assented to, it is my considered view that the Money-Bill nature of such a Special Motion would call for it to be moved by the Budget and Appropriations Committee. Indeed, this is the current arrangement with regard to the Special Motion for a Vote-on-Account moved under Article 222 of the Constitution and Standing Order No.242. In summary, Hon. Members, my considered guidance is therefore as follows: (i) THAT, after consultation, the Speaker of the Senate and I have reached a common considered view that replicating a “Vote-on-Account” procedure to allow disbursement of funds to the county governments pending the passage and assent of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill requires legislative grounding in the Constitution or an Act of Parliament; (ii) THAT, in the absence of a proper legislative grounding in the Constitution or an Act of Parliament, the intended notice of Motion by the Leader of the Minority Party, the Hon. John Mbadi, noble as it is, is premature at the moment; (iii) THAT, the Leader of the Majority Party and the Leader of the Minority Party are hereby requested to urgently engage the Senate Majority Leader and the Senate Minority Leader to fast-track the consideration and passage by the Senate of the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (National Assembly Bill No.63 of 2019) with appropriate amendments to entrench the procedure for the withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund in law in the event of any delays in the passage of the annual County Allocation of Revenue Act; (iv) THAT, the House Business Committee and the Budget and Appropriations Committee shall prioritize the consideration of the Senate’s Amendments, if any, to the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (National Assembly Bill No.63 of 2019) over any other business once the Schedule of the Senate’s Amendments is conveyed to this House by the Senate; and, (v) THAT, in the unlikely event that there is inordinate delay in the consideration, amendment and passage of the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (National Assembly Bill No.63 of 2019) by the Senate, the Budget and Appropriations Committee shall urgently cause the publication and introduction of a Bill proposing amendments to the Public Finance Management Act, 2012 to cater for interim disbursements to the county governments pending the enactment of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill. Hon. Members, the House is accordingly guided. Hon. Mbadi, you may have the Floor."
}