Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1247237,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1247237/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 1652,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nyando, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Jared Okello",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "tried to bring it to light so that our children can know that. That kind of disorganisation should not be allowed to pass. On this Report, the drafters of the CDF Act 2003, came to the realisation of how other areas were alienated by the successive regimes. But where you have to vote a particular pattern in order to get benefits out of it… Two days ago, and I am glad my colleague here has said this House is not an appendage or a stooge of State House, we listened to His Excellency William Samoei Ruto dictating terms to this House. When we were in school, for those of us who were privileged to undertake civic education, we were told about separation of powers —how Parliament is separate from the Judiciary and the Executive, and that no arm of Government can dictate to the other on how to conduct its business. I was perplexed beyond recognition that William Samoei Ruto could stand up to dictate to this House how to handle the Finance Bill. What happened to the independence of this institution? What happened to the matter of argumentation? You have to argue. A president, so he calls himself, cannot dictate to this House how we conduct our business. If that was to threaten certain Members of this House to vote a particular way, then I am very afraid that they are just starting. You never know how much they would want to push in the next few years. If we are not afraid, do not be shocked to be confronted by a Bill that will be extending the life of a president in this country. It has happened to our neighbouring country. It can happen now. What the Executive is trying to do is to see how much it can push so that it can transact clandestine businesses in this Republic. The drafters of the NG-CDF Act fully recognised that there are issues that need to be addressed in schools, with security, sports, culture and many others. One thing that I really appreciate is how transparent the management of the NG-CDF is. If you have to reallocate the money, you have to seek permission from the Board, unlike with devolution where the decision to reallocate funds is at the disposal of a governor and his or her Executive Committee. The NG-CDF money is directly tagged to projects. How I wish that those who drafted the devolution chapter in the Constitution borrowed from this system. That is how cases of corruption are nipped in the bud. When you move around this country, the only good news comes from the NG-CDF. Whereas billions of shillings are usually allocated to counties, there is nothing to write home about the money. Even when there is no water, healthcare and roads, no one asks the governor. People still come to us as Members of Parliament to answer their questions. The inordinate delay in releasing funds is something that needs to be properly checked. The Government only disbursed a little money towards bursaries. But what happens to all the projects that were hitherto earmarked for funding such as upgrading or building classrooms or conducting sporting events? The money some constituencies got was not even enough for bursaries yet we are coming to the end of this financial year. This House is quiet on this yet it is the same one that passes the Budget for all other departments in the Government. We have not noted any inordinate delay in releasing funds to the Executive arm of government. Just the other day we saw the Chief Justice riding in a state-of-the-art vehicle, meaning that the Judiciary has got money. However, when it comes to Members of Parliament, we have to beg. The Judiciary and the Executive receive their full budget allocations. All that money comes from appropriation by this House. When it comes to our matters, we are told that the National Treasury has not released the Exchequer. Further, we are told that the Speaker and the Clerk will be meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning to talk about our allocations. We have to beg, literally kneeling to an Executive that has no due respect for Members of this House and what it ought to be doing. These are matters that we must confront and be very much alive to. We are not going to allow the Judiciary to buy state-of-the-art vehicles and showcase them in public functions while disregarding the The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}