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{
    "id": 1229503,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1229503/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 247,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ugunja, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Opiyo Wandayi",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Okay. Start counting. Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise under Standing Order 33 to move this Motion. As I alluded to earlier on, we are facing unprecedented times in this country. It is the first time since we attained our Independence that the Government of the Republic of Kenya has failed to pay civil servants their salaries. As we speak, there are thousands of civil servants who are yet to receive their March salaries, yet today is 11th April. There is no indication as to when these salaries will be paid, if at all they will be paid. We are advised that a nation is like a going concern. Accountants here can tell you that anytime a going concern fails or defaults to pay its workers, it is basically fettering on bankruptcy. Therefore, it is safe to say that Kenya is almost becoming bankrupt, if it is not already bankrupt. This is no idle talk. This is very serious. This country is going bankrupt as we watch. It is not only about salary delays. As we speak, all the 47 county governments are facing a serious financial crunch. Out of the Ksh370 billion of the equitable share that was to go to counties in this financial year, two months to the end of the financial year, only Ksh141 billion has been disbursed. County governments are unable to pay their employees, leave alone provide essential services to the people of this country. There has been no remittance to the counties from January to April this year. This is unprecedented. This never happened even during the COVID-19 Pandemic. One would be forgiven to think that we are in a war setup. What could possibly be happening? Above all, nearly all development projects have come to a halt on account of lack of money. Where has the money gone? Hon. Temporary Speaker, according to the estimates of revenue, grants and loans for the year ending 30th June this year, which we approved in this House last year, the KRA had targeted to collect Ksh2.1 trillion in tax revenue. As at the end of February this year, the KRA had only collected Ksh1.2 trillion, which essentially amounts to 57 per cent of the target. Yesterday, through an unsigned statement, which ostensibly came from the KRA, the KRA purported to have attained 95 per cent of its original target. This cannot be true because the tax revenue target can only be approved by this House. I can confirm to you that even in the Supplementary Estimates which we passed a few weeks ago, there was no variation on tax revenue. Therefore, KRA has fallen short of its target. If this is untrue, let the KRA come and dispute it tomorrow. I will be happy to face them head-on. We have had contradicting statements emanating from KRA. One statement was from the Chairperson of the Board of Directors in the KRA, Mr. Anthony Mwaura. He is on record saying that he is trying to drain the swamp in KRA and that there are officers in the KRA who"
}