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{
    "id": 1241253,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1241253/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 327,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Tobiko",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "pay especially because as the Sen. Shakila Abdala has said, these are things that are already in the budget. They have been budgeted for and the various levels of governments must always advertise for what they can pay. We have also seen county governments or governors who have left a lot of pending bills for the next government. It therefore collapses services at the county levels because the first thing a governor addresses when they come in is to try to sort out pending bills. We must also insist on payments that can only be done after verification that these services and goods were delivered. This is because in this country where corruption has taken root at all levels of government, people have supplied nothing and they come and demand payment. It is important that forensic audits be done. We should make sure that goods and services have been delivered and payments made. I agree with the Members who have spoken earlier that whereas the intention of the Bill is very good, and will bring discipline into the whole area of procurement, we may not necessarily insist on interest. This is because we have seen counties that have delayed payments due to reasons that are not necessarily of their making but because of delays of allocations from the National Treasury. Madam Temporary Speaker, I support this Bill. We have also seen situations that this Bill should address. We have encouraged our young people, the women and disabled, to go into business with both national Government and county governments but in the process, they get themselves into a quagmire, which they do not understand. This is a field that has cartels. Nobody respects the 30 per cent allocation of the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) that is meant for the youth, the disabled and women. For our young people to prosper in this field, we must bring discipline into this field. Madam Temporary Speaker, for women to do business with this Government, this field has to be streamlined. It can only be streamlined if we have prompt payments. Therefore, I support this because it is important that the Government becomes disciplined. It is important that goods are paid for. It is important that we become disciplined in all fields. We have visited other countries and we have seen the kind of--- Even private entities in this country do pay on delivery. We have seen private entities and enterprises being prompt in their dealings with the public or suppliers. Madam Temporary Speaker, discipline should be in the public service when it comes to procurement, and I think this law is meant to do exactly that. With a few amendments, it is a good law which we need to support. I thank you."
}