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{
    "id": 1024313,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1024313/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 403,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Gichugu, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Gichimu Githinji",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13341,
        "legal_name": "Robert Gichimu Githinji",
        "slug": "robert-gichimu-githinji"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for the opportunity. I rise to support the Report by PIC. Their effort cannot be underestimated having come up with such a long report for 48 parastatals. It is not a mean achievement. One of the areas that need to be looked at when we look at the audit reports for these State corporations is their viability. In fact, we have seen so many State corporations which are now looking for the Government to boost them for a restart. This is because they have not been able to even pay their workers. They have not even been able to do what they are mandated by the Acts which created them through Parliament. Such corporations include Telkom and Postal Corporation of Kenya. It is only yesterday that we got a report from Teleposta SACCO that they have not been able to pay their workers for the last four months. They have eaten into the members’ SACCO savings. They have not been able to remit deductions that have been from the employees themselves, which is criminal. As a Committee, in a different angle, we are also investigating that. That begs the question whether we should have State corporations which are not doing their work. We have seen that it is very hard for Government to do business in this country. It is high time such corporations were identified and their assets rounded up and sold off so that the Government can get out of the business completely and leave business to private investors. I support the arguments and contributions by my colleague, Hon. Ndindi Nyoro; that indeed, we have State corporations like REA, which are making us suffer as Members of Parliament. This is because they have numerous projects that have been left hanging. Actually, you find that contractors have been paid and nothing has happened. Actually, everyone in the village is asking us so many questions that we are not able to answer. These are some of the things that should also be followed up to establish whether money that has been spent has really helped or has reached beneficiaries who were supposed to benefit. As I wind up my contribution, I must say that the State corporations that should be left are those that safeguard the interests of the citizens and those that are exclusively advisors of Government on technical issues. Anything to deal with business should be left for private investors. I thank the Chair and the Committee for the good work they have done. Keep it up. Let them also venture into all the other parastatals. Instances of corruption should be brought to the attention of this House so that we can punish whoever is found culpable. With those remarks, I support."
}