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{
    "id": 1051352,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1051352/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 234,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kang’ata",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1826,
        "legal_name": "Irungu Kang'ata",
        "slug": "irungu-kangata"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, this country has devolved billions of shillings since 2013. I am happy that there is a new proposal to devolve more funds to the counties. As a House, we must ensure that we guard against corruption, whether that corruption is in Murang‟a County, Nyamira County or Kajiado County. This Committee is one of our most important Committees so far as matters oversight are concerned. I urge various investigative agencies, which are yet to send a representative to that Committee as ex officio members, to please, do so. I congratulate the few organizations that have so far sent a representative to that Committee. I urge the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to do the same. I understand that there is a slot for him. He should take it up. The DPP should also take up that position, so that there is a clear interlink between the recommendations of this Committee and the actual implementation of the recommendations. We want to see executive officials being taken to court and efforts being made to ensure that there is no loss of money. Madam Temporary Speaker, let me propose other ways of protecting county funds, which I am sure have been provided in this Report. Number one is the use of technology. This country is yet to adopt an e-government platform. We are still using manual systems to collect county revenue and charge market fees. One way to fight corruption is to adopt a paperless government, so that the county askaris can use technology to collect revenue. We will, therefore, reduce incidences of corruption. Billions of shillings have been lost in devolution, as clearly captured by these reports. Those billions of shillings should be going to build and support boda boda people. We can train them for free. Those billions should be expended to provide inputs for our farmers. I come from Murang‟a County where we are one of the largest growers of avocado. We need inputs. There are also coffee and tea farmers. The billions that have been captured in this report as lost should be used to support of coffee and tea farmers. The producer milk price in Murang‟a is currently about Kshs30 per litre. I have no doubt that if we curb corruption in our county and all other counties, the producer price of milk will be about Kshs60 per litre. It is possible. For instance, if the factory that was mooted by the County Government of Murang‟a for processing milk was operating efficiently, I have no doubt that the common person in Murang‟a would be getting better value for his investment. Madam Temporary Speaker, if we curb corruption, the poor primary school children aged between three and five years, and go to our nurseries and kindergartens that are supported by the county governments, will be eating free food. We would have boosted school enrollment because of that. As a result of a few governors and county officials who have been enriching themselves as captured by this Report, we now have poor children who cannot go to school. When I see street children in Nairobi, and children who cannot get a meal a day, I realize that there is a clear correlation between their not attending school and governors who are stealing billions of shillings and keeping the poor man down. Madam Temporary Speaker, as the Senate, we must rise and fight for well-run counties. This is one of our most important tools that we can use; coming up with a report, which I urge my colleagues to adopt. I urge the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to take The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}