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{
    "id": 1089778,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1089778/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 363,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Were",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13183,
        "legal_name": "Petronila Were Lokorio",
        "slug": "petronila-were-lokorio"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this Bill provides for resolutions of disputes in relation to a defective invoice presented by a supplier or a procurement entity in government and as I have said in private entities. Where there is a dispute which is the reason why we have very many pending bills. This law will provide that 50 per cent is paid to the supplier as you resolve that issue. Even as you resolve it, there are timelines. You have been given 14 days within which you must have resolved that problem. If you do not pay within the prescribed date, interest will accrue to the supplier. This will bring a lot of discipline in this sector. We will not ask for procurement of goods, services or work until we have the money with us if at all we are the Government. We shall not allow haphazard tendering that is not based on any budget. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this Bill also provides that those who are the first in will also be paid first. That will create some form of fairness unlike now where cronies, relatives and we have seen in various impeachment reports, Auditor General’s reports that have come to us. There has been proof that cronies and relatives have been paid ahead of other suppliers. The first in is first out and that will create some fairness. This Bill also makes the accounting officer responsible directly. They will not say I got direct orders or orders from above that is why I did this. They know that they will be the ones to take responsibility for what they do. They will be careful as they undertake this process. The County Executive Committee (CEC) Member, Chief Officer, procurement officers in charge if he is the accounting officer by law will take the responsibility. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this Bill has also provided for the CS to make regulations to facilitate this Bill. That will deal with the operational issues that are in this Bill. I request the sponsors of this Bill that is Sen. Farhiya and Sen. Sakaja to have a definition of the word “prompt” in the definition of terms for this Bill. If you are going to call it a prescribed payment date that is fine. Let us have it defined so that there is no ambiguity into what we mean by ‘prompt’ by just looking at the Bill. Thank you and with those remarks I beg to second."
}