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{
    "id": 105775,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/105775/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 304,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ms. Karua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 166,
        "legal_name": "Martha Wangari Karua",
        "slug": "martha-karua"
    },
    "content": "We are aware that farmers in various parts of the country were able to harvest this year, and we saw them complaining about lateness by the Government in buying their food crops to enable them to re-invest in more production. At a time when we know that farmers have been experiencing delays in their produce being bought by the Government, we hear of the arrival of 40 tonnes of maize at the port. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we are aware that this imported maize is coming with exaggerated importation prices, even when the prices of maize are low in the world. It means that out of the money that we are going to Vote – we will Vote the money because Kenyans need services – a chunk of it will end up lining the pockets of a select few individuals. Since the maize scandal at the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009, a select few persons have become extremely wealthy at the expense of Kenyans. That is where the question of good faith comes in. To-date, we have heard of no prosecutions arising from the maize scam. We hear excuses from the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) about there being no evidence, and yet the World Bank is able to estimate that we lost a whooping Kshs23 billion. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are able to give reports. Individuals are able to confess that they made Kshs85 million, and yet we are told that there is no evidence. Is there good faith in requesting money for public expenditure or are we being made to Vote for money to corruption cartels? These are the issues. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Government needs to seriously address the issue of corruption and the issue of exaggerated prices in procurement. Yes, procurement officers do comply with the Procurement Act. They ensure the technical compliance of getting the required quotations but behind the Act, they subvert the law by pre-arranging with people tendering, who then fix the prices, and the taxpayer ends up paying. These are issues we would like the Minister proposing this Motion to take care of. We will Vote the money, but do you have good faith in ensuring that this money ends up benefitting Kenyans and not corruption cartels?"
}