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{
    "id": 1057904,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1057904/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 107,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "to be broken down by county so that each Senator knows what is happening in their own county in respect to the Inua Jamii Programme. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare appreciates the Government for initiatives to cushion the vulnerable members of the society. However, the following concerns were raised by the Members of the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare. The Committee notes that the communication on the disbursement of funds always come late. Therefore, the Committee and Members at large are not able to be fully involved with the implementation process at the oversight to oversight this implementation. We also observed that the State Department of Social Protection has one of the biggest allocation. If you look at the 2021/2022 Budget Policy Statement (BPS), their allocation was Kshs34.2 billion due to the social safety net programmes. However, there still lacks institutional framework for the proper implementation of this programme despite that huge amount of Kshs34 billion. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we have asked that the State Department of Social Protection gives a proposed institutional and regulatory framework through regulation or legislation that can ensure that these monies reach the intended recipients. You will find that a lot of the Kshs34 billion is being pilfered. The Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare also noted - as per the Auditor-General’s report not as per our opinion - that there are gaps in the implementation of the programmes. Especially, on the older persons cash transfer programme, if the older persons are the ones actually getting the money and on the issuance of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) cards to them. We also noted that the social safety net programmes are devolved functions. Therefore, the National Government should involve the county governments in the implementation of these programmes. Not just implementation, but to also ensure that there is no duplication. This is because the duplication of these efforts by the county governments and the national Government leaves loopholes for one level to say that they are the ones who have done this programme and to account for it yet it has been done by another level of Government. Mr. Speaker, Sir, going forward, the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, which I am honoured to chair, will be engaging the State Department of Social Protection on the above issues to ensure that- (1)Senate gets communication in good time so that Senators are able to go to the ground in their respective counties with the proper information to oversight the implementation for those who are keen on this. (2)There is an institutional framework on each of the programmes on the criteria for selection into the programmes, the implementation framework of the programmes and the Monitoring and Evaluation (ME) of these programmes. (3)That the older persons in the society are also issued with NHIF cards to take care of their medical needs. (4)That the State Department of Social Protection in their communication to the Committee and the Senate should include details of the disbursements under each programme broken down to counties and to constituency level. This includes details on 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."
}