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{
    "id": 1048656,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1048656/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 312,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13162,
        "legal_name": "Moses Otieno Kajwang'",
        "slug": "moses-otieno-kajwang"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I do not know whether these agencies have complied or written back. We made the decision that committees would follow up the implementation on their own without sending it to a different Implementation Committee, I therefore, urge Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri to make sure that those Motions that were adopted by this House; it is now more than one year. We need to start seeing action. Where the Committee recommended prosecution, we need to see people being prosecuted. Where the Committee recommended fines and administrative action, we need to get a report in this House that, that action was taken. We have gone round this country using public resources in the exercise and pursuit of oversight. I recall that there was a time we took several helicopters and flew all the way to Samburu County to check on projects and ascertain that the things that the governors were telling us in Nairobi were, indeed, true. I believe that the people of Samburu would want to see those bold recommendations that we made in their presence while in that town, implemented. Otherwise, the Senate will be nothing but a toothless bulldog. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I want to address a few substantive issues that have been raised in the report that we are seeking to adopt today. I know that because of time, this is a debate that I would love to spill over to next week, and even next month so that the Senator of each county whose report is before us should be compelled to be here. We are compelling and giving summons to governors and Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) to appear before the Senate yet when the County Public Accounts and Investment Committee (CPAIC) brings its reports on the state of financial affairs in those counties, there is nobody in the House. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, allow me to first of all, with a very heavy heart, to make note of a gentleman who was very instrumental in the production of these reports that we are talking about. He is not a member of the Senate. He was a member of staff in the Office of the Auditor-General; a gentleman called Akaka Ramoya, with whom we spent long days and nights to ensure that the Auditor-General was present at all our meetings. It is unfortunate that Akaka Ramoya died in December. May his soul rest in peace. I just want to assure all the partners that are working with us that the support that they are giving to the Senate and CPAIC shall not be in vain. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on to some of the substantive issues. I start with the issue of audit opinions. We are seeing a situation where there are counties that have had disclaimers and adverse opinions for the last eight years. In this House, we made the decision that we were not going to look at audit opinions any more. Previously, we used to have the fiscal responsibility index, where two per cent was allocated to counties on the basis of prudence in financial management. We took that away. That is dangerous because going forward, if there is no incentive for prudent financial management--- I know people have argued that prudent financial management is ingrained in everything that county governments are supposed to do. However, without that motivation, perhaps we are going to see a situation where county governments are not going to care, because they know that all that can happen to them is for them to be The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}