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{
"id": 1077062,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1077062/?format=api",
"text_counter": 268,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Maara, JP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Kareke Mbiuki",
"speaker": {
"id": 79,
"legal_name": "Japhet M. Kareke Mbiuki",
"slug": "japhet-kareke-mbiuki"
},
"content": "Departmental Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, through consultation with the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation and the other sector ministries interrogated. We presented the same to the Departmental Committee on Budget and Appropriations which adopted it. The same Report was adopted by this House. However, it is very unfortunate because despite this House adopting the Report of the Departmental Committee on Budget and Appropriations in Supplementary Budget I, the same were not effected by the National Treasury. That is why the National Treasury effected the original ceilings which they presented in this House, not what was adopted by this House. So, I brought up this issue with the Departmental Committee on Budget and Appropriations. They had an engagement with the National Treasury and they agreed that, in the Supplementary Budget II, which has just been tabled today, the same will be rectified because they were saying there were some technical issues in the Appropriations Act enacted by this House. I am optimistic that through Supplementary Budget II, the same has been considered. ` Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, coming to the 2021/2022 Budget Estimates for the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Committee recommended the approval without amendments and the same for the State Department of Wildlife and the State Department of Mining. However, for the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, the Committee recommended approval with quite a number of amendments. Allow me to highlight some of the challenges which the sector has actually been facing. One of the challenges which the sector has been facing, especially the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, is to do with the pending bills. The Committee observed that the Ministry currently has total pending bills of more than Ksh7.1 billion, most of which are historical pending bills mainly due to unlimited statutory deductions as a result of the Exchequer issues in the previous year. During the 2019/2020 Financial Year, the Ministry did not receive the final quarter which was rolled over as a pending bill in the current Financial Year. When it comes to the National Government Constituencies Development Fund, it has received less than a half of the appropriated Exchequer and yet we are coming towards the tailend. So, this means that as we close the year, more than half of the appropriated budget will not be released by the National Treasury, which will spill over as pending bills. So, mine is to really plead with the National Treasury that, for the remaining days, because some of this money has already been expended, ensure that there is release of the Exchequer. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the other issue is abrupt changes in the approved allocation for various projects in the middle of the financial year through the supplementary budgets. That is always a catalyst for the accumulation of pending bills. The Committee proposed that the Government should provide funding to settle these pending bills and also curb accumulation of pending bills in future by limiting medium changes in the Budget and other addendums. As we are seated here, we have less than 20 days to go. We have just received Supplementary II which is now coming to make changes in the approved Budget Estimates. Of course, there may be deductions or additions. When it comes to the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation, the Committee proposed to do some reallocation. The Committee observed that there are quite a number of irrigation and water harvesting facilities in almost all counties that have been silted up and damaged by floodwaters, thus leaving the neighbouring communities vulnerable and without access to water for farming and domestic use. These facilities were supposed to control flood levels and have left communities exposed to raging waters. This is a risk to their lives and livelihood. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}