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"id": 1058117,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
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"speaker": {
"id": 13162,
"legal_name": "Moses Otieno Kajwang'",
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"content": "This morning we had a conversation with the Council of Governors (CoG) and its new leadership. They told me that as at 30th June, 2020, Kenyans are owed Kshs113 billion by county governments. The report you are adopting today has a lower figure. Today Kshs113 billion, which is money that should be in the pockets of Kenyans and used to pay taxes is sitting with the Government. No wonder this economy is dying. We are becoming a wheelbarrow and mkokoteni economy and yet the Government is keeping money meant for citizens in its pocket. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, of the Kshs113 billion, Kshs78 billion relates to Nairobi City County and we thought we had solved the problem. We thought that it was easy, get one joker out and bring another joker in, and then all our problems will be sorted out. An amount of Kshs78 billion is still owed. So, between the general and whoever it is who is running Nairobi City County, let us release this money. Let this money go to citizens. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there is no single day you do not collect taxes from us in form of parking fees. There is no single day you are not collecting money from women and our mothers in Gikomba. Collect that money and use it to pay these pending bills rather than using it to do things that just satisfy the ego. If I was given a choice between settling the Kshs78 billion pending bills owed by Nairobi City County and putting cabro in the Central Business Districts (CBD), I would first pay the private sector and entrepreneurs their money before I do it. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Treasury has also delayed to give counties money. We resolved in this morning that in the next two weeks we shall summon the Treasury before the Committee of the House to explain why Kshs36 billion has not been remitted to counties. Why Kshs4.6 billion under the Kenya Devolution Support Programme has not been given to county governments? Why Kshs2.8 billion under the Kenya Urban Support Programme has not been sent to county governments? This is part of the explanation for the pending bills. Even if it were the explanation, the total amount unremitted is far much less than the pending bills that the county governments are keeping in their books. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there must be the final audit; an audit of finality. I do agree with the CoG who have proposed that the Office of the Auditor-General do a final audit. The last audit that was done by Mr. Edward Ouko, the former Auditor General raised more questions than answers. It told us that such a huge percentage of our pending bills were unverified. Finally, there should be a policy on conditional grants. We have a lot of money going to counties in terms of level five hospitals, roads, devolution support programme and county headquarters. We do not have a proper framework for their oversight. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, let this Report that we have adopted and the reports that we have just voted on a few hours ago form a basis for us to consolidate our thinking. Let it be the basis upon which the Senate stops focusing on counting pins and pens, paper and rims and sheets of foolscaps in counties. Let it be the basis that informs us to amend the law, come up with policy and regulation that ensures that when monies are sent to counties, it does not find its way in the pockets and stomachs and whatever other body parts of the governors and the people in counties. That money goes to the citizens. 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."
}