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{
    "id": 1026477,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1026477/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 193,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Opiyo Wandayi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2960,
        "legal_name": "James Opiyo Wandayi",
        "slug": "james-opiyo-wandayi"
    },
    "content": "It is also important to point out that under Article 203(3) of the Constitution, the equitable share of revenue raised nationally has to be allocated on the basis of the most recent audited accounts of revenue received and approved by the National Assembly. Therefore, time is of essence both in terms of meeting the timelines required by the Constitution for this House to act on those reports and also in terms of ensuring that those reports are acted upon for the national revenue to be allocated equitably. I want to conclude by saying that given the nature of the proceedings of the PAC, it is neither feasible nor practical to engage with accounting officers remotely or virtually. I will explain why. Firstly, the nature of the documents that an accounting officer would ordinarily produce before the committee and make references on requires the physical presence of the accounting officer. Secondly, PAC hearings, being quasi-judicial, require that the committee Members get to assess the demeanour of witnesses in order to inform committee observations and subsequent recommendations. It is very important that Members who sit in the PAC meetings are able to see the person who is responding to the queries and interrogate them live. Otherwise, if we leave it open to virtual meetings, it creates room for mischief, which we do not want to get to now. Finally, and in view of the foregoing, the PAC is seeking your further direction on the best approach the committee, and indeed the House, should take in executing this very important mandate of overseeing public expenditures in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because this pandemic might be here forever and we cannot imagine a situation where public accounting officers would sit out there confident that there is no way they are going to be called to account for their actions simply because there is the COVID-19 pandemic and there is no room for physical meetings between them and Parliament. The committee is particularly appealing for your permission to allow for physical meetings with the accounting officers within the framework of social distancing and other public health protocols on the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the committee is asking for facilitation by the Parliamentary Service Commission with a more spacious and conducive venue for its meetings for it to be able to execute its mandate effectively. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}