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{
    "id": 1051852,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1051852/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 89,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Ochillo-Ayacko",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "We, as a Committee, were disappointed that the National Treasury continues to look at the Senate as not being pivotal in matters budget and finance. On that day CS, National Treasury, we were informed was meeting the National Assembly budget team and had also set a meeting with us. We had the misfortune of not meeting the CS, but we had very competent professionals from the National Treasury. We resolved as a Committee that in future the CS Treasury must take the Senate seriously. This is because if we look the PFM Act and the Constitution, this is a shared responsibility. We allocate money to counties collectively and individually. We are not just passengers on matters money. We are the main drivers because a national Government without counties is like a roof without foundation. I think growth must come from the counties. I hope that the National Treasury will take seriously the observation we made that they try to slight the Senate when it comes to matters finance. We, as a Committee, also noticed that the national and county governments do not comply with the PFM Act when it comes to stratification of ceilings that are supposed to be spent on salaries and recurrent expenditure. We recommended and still do so, that the National Treasury, the Controller of Budget (CoB) and other enforcement institutions must find a way of enforcing these regulations. Regulations are made for good order and stability. They must not be made in vain. It would be worse if the violator of laws or regulations of policy are the people who are supposed to enforce them and comply with them. Governments must never break law and regulations. We hope the National Treasury and other related institutions are hearing us loud and clear and will in future ensure they are part of compliance with the rule of law, and also its enforcement. A government that does not comply with law or its enforcement has no moral or legitimate authority to purport to be a legitimate Government. We hope that recommendation will be taken seriously. It is good to note that the amount that has been allocated to counties is good. It was the amount that almost made us become enemies when we needed one another. The Senate is not just a collection of enemies who are members of the Senate. We, as the Senate, are collective and must remain so because output is collectively ours. The opinion of an individual Senator is not the decision of the Senate. I am happy that the allocation was increased and that because of our collective determination, the fact that revenues are low, the Executive has struggled to honour that commitment. I thank the President, the Cabinet and the Government for trying as best as they could to ensure that commitment was not hot air to Kenyans. It is a commitment that we are trying to honour. I hope the National Treasury will find enough money and disperse it to counties, so that we are not just a Parliament that is talking sweet words and making commitments that are not honoured. Mr. Speaker, Sir, my Chair and other Members will have opportunity to have their input so I do not want to take all the oxygen from this report. I associate myself fully with 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."
}