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{
    "id": 1103151,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1103151/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 194,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Ochillo-Ayacko",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Deputy Speaker, I am happy with this Committee that is chaired by my able colleague and learned friend, Sen. Faki, when they have recommended that a thorough look needs to be made to this proposal by the National Treasury. The National Treasury as an institution particular in this epoch has been very opaque. I am in the Senate Committee on Finance and Budget as Vice-Chair, and so, I speak with authority that National Treasury have never come forth been open or transparent when it comes to funds under their control and discretion. We have something called the Equalization Fund that we have been completely unaware of or seen how it has been implemented. The Fund is something that has come into being and was established pursuant to law. It has associated regulation and never been implemented or benefited anybody. You can see the opacity with which they have handled that fund. I doubt whether their handling of this fund they intend to set will be any different. If we are permitting the establishment of this fund under the same environment, I do not think the output would be any different. I am in agreement with the Committee that we need to be watchful, not just with our two eyes, but with all our organs. We need to be watchful with our ears as we listen to what has been happening. We need to look at the history of the behavior of this National Treasury and to be sure that when we authorize this, it will be for the benefit of Kenyans. Secondly, as you look at the economy and its performance today, everybody knows we are indebted up to our hair. We owe monies left, right and centre. We are forced to go to predictable sources for taxes such as fuel and others, in order to meet our financial revenue targets. Why and what makes it urgent to establish a fund when how to put money into it is in doubt? Is it a priority to establish a fund now when we do not have funds and have so many pending bills that we are not paying? Where will we get money and resources to sink into this sinking fund? Since it appears that we do not have excess funds for sinking into this sinking fund, I doubt whether it is our priority to establish this Fund, unless a magic wand would emerge from the current National Treasury to put money into this fund. Madam Deputy Speaker, looking at our public institutions that are expecting funds from the National Treasury, the Judiciary is crying foul and screaming for quick"
}