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{
    "id": 1051239,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1051239/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 121,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kihika",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13216,
        "legal_name": "Susan Wakarura Kihika",
        "slug": "susan-wakarura-kihika"
    },
    "content": "These funds have the potential to have less oversight and transparency as they move rapidly to meet the urgent needs resulting from the pandemic. Mr. Speaker, Sir, already there have been cases of scarcity in essential protection, life-saving equipment, adequate assistance and the provision of vital services. We, as the Senate, must judiciously play our oversight role over these funds. Otherwise, it will affect our ability as a country to respond to and recover from this pandemic. Even worse, it will cripple our ability to respond and facilitate services towards other key sectors such as education, water and agriculture, amongst others. I urge the Committee on Health, when the times for the vaccines against COVID- 19 to be distributed, it is crucial that every effort is taken to ensure that corruption does not prevent or impede the equitable availability and distribution of the vaccines or at the worst, the falsification of vaccines. As we engage in the budget process for the Financial Year 2021/22, I urge the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget to interrogate the various budget documents that will be brought before the Senate using a gender lens. It would be progressive to have line Ministries and Government agencies present reports to the Senate supported with the sex desegregated data demonstrating the impact that budget allocations have had on services delivered to men and boys, women and girls. Time is overdue for our committees to conduct oversight using a gender lens for Bills at the pre-publication scrutiny to contain a legislative impact assessment and for legislative impact assessment to be carried out once a Bill has been passed into law and operationalized. Otherwise, as the Senate, we will be incapacitated to make informed decisions and promote meaningful gender equality and equity. It would be irresponsible of us not to play our lawmaking role through ensuring that a strong legal framework to curb corruption is in place. This involves passing national anti-corruption legislation and creating an environment that makes corruption more difficult by promoting transparency. As a Senate, we must also be open, transparent and accountable. I take this opportunity to recall that the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights had been tasked to review existing laws on anti-corruption and present a report to the Senate. Allow me to urge the Committee to expedite that matter and present a comprehensive report enumerating the various gaps in law that continue to hinder efforts to curb corruption, including a draft Bill for our consecration. Colleagues, let us make a concerted, collective and individual effort to build effective, transparent, accountable and inclusive institutions, and reduce illicit financial flows. Let us strengthen the recovery of stolen assets, therefore, reducing bribery and corruption."
}