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{
    "id": 1213151,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1213151/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 503,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "on matters roads from one point to another in Kiharu, Maragwa or Mugoiri? When you ask them about budget performance and control, they are not able to absorb Kshs2 billion especially on development budget because of violation of Article 219 where the National Treasury is not keen on following the provision of the Constitution. Therefore, as we pass this Motion, the National Treasury and other Government agencies must work to ensure that the money is dispersed as appropriated. I think also county assemblies should work very hard because the law provides they should pass those budget estimates and others within the county assemblies especially in Article 224 on County Appropriation Bills. Most county assemblies when they are passing county budgets do not have problems. Before, especially from 2013 most of the budgets were being rejected by the Controller of Budget (CoB) considering in the last two terms, there were challenges. However, I am happy with the capacity building of the county assemblies. The processing of budgets for county executives and assemblies is becoming much easier. Thirdly, we need to relook at the financial autonomy of county assemblies. That is a soft underbelly in terms of our primary oversight. We need to give them financial autonomy as per the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act. Madam Temporary Speaker, can you believe the Governor of Murangá, Nairobi or Nandi Counties whose Finance Executive Committee Member (CECM) gets money as per the PFM Act through the County Revenue Fund (CRF) from their bank account in the National Treasury. It is processed to the county government, then the clerk of the county assembly makes a requisition for those monies to be taken to the county assemblies. How then are the Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) expected to oversight this when the governor is holding it? I was asking Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale to talk about accountability in Kakamega. Those MCAs could not oversight. If they oversight, the governor will not give them the money. They will go without salaries, car loans and mortgages as well as allowances, yet, we know MCAs are the first line of defence for wananchi who have small harambees, baby showers, funerals and wedding preparations in the villages. I do not know whether they participate in the preparation of bull-fighting matches. Madam Temporary Speaker, the point I am making is that the CECM makes a requisition. The Senate must be ready to give financial autonomy to our county assemblies. Governors are mischievous. They can tell the wananchi, “MCAs wanted to be given allowances yet there is no medicine. Do you want me to buy medicine or to give them money?” The wananchi will say medicine should be bought. What happens if a Governor is summoned or invited to appear before a county assembly? They will use their power to withdraw and ensure non-accessibility. There was a policy before but we need to amend the PFM Act. I appeal to the House to give financial autonomy to MCAs in order to perform their duties. I have seen Nandi County’s total conditional grants from the National Government which is provided for under Chapter 12 on Principles of Finance is getting a total of Kshs153,297,872. There is also conditional leasing of medical equipment."
}