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{
"id": 1275665,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Osotsi",
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"speaker": {
"id": 13588,
"legal_name": "Osotsi Godfrey Otieno",
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"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am happy to report that the Committee has made numerous achievements while executing its oversight mandate. For instance, following the Committee’s intervention, the County Government of Murang’a was able to take full ownership of all its five water companies, a matter that had remained unresolved for over 10 years. On consideration of the matter of non-remittance of pension deductions by entities in counties; while interrogating audit reports of water companies, the Committee noted non-remittance of pension deductions by county entities remained rampant. Consequently, the Committee resolved to conduct an inquiry into the matter and has so far engaged various stakeholders, including the National Treasury, Controller of Budget (CoB), Local Authorities Trust Fund (LAPTrust), Local Authorities Provident Fund (LAPFund), and the Council of Governors (CoGs), among others. All county pensioners have in the range of Kshs80 billion that has not been paid to pension schemes. We are following this matter closely. This week on Friday, we have a joint retreat between the Committee and the National Treasury. We have called all the stakeholders to address this matter of pension funds owed to LAPFund and LAPTrust. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Committee encountered the following challenges while executing its mandate- (i) Numerous requests for rescheduling of meetings by invited witnesses hence adversely affecting the Committee’s work plan. (ii) Failure to honour invitations by invited guests without valid reasons. (iii) Late submission or failure to submit required documents by invited guests. (iv) Numerous changes in the Committee meetings venue. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in dealing with the above listed challenges, the Committee declined more than two consecutive requests for rescheduling. The Committee also reminds invited guests the provisions of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017, on failure to honour invitations without a reasonable cause as well on failure to submit documents. In this case, we have issued summons to two governors. That is the Governor of Nakuru County, Hon. Kihika and yesterday, Governor of Kiambu County, former Senator, Hon. Wamatangi. On the matter of the inquiry into non-remittance of pension deductions by county entities, the Committee is scheduled to hold a final multi-stakeholder forum this Friday with the relevant stakeholders, led by the National Treasury with the aim of resolving the matter. The Committee is scheduled to have a consultative meeting with the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation together with the nine regional water works development agencies and the Water Sector Trust Fund to deliberate on transfer of assets and liabilities to county governments. Also, look at the various provisions in the Water Act, which impends devolution. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Committee plans to conduct field visits to various counties. Priority will be given to investments that are facing huge fiduciary risks. The Committee is also in the process of preparing its reports for tabling in the House. So far, we have done more that 10 reports which are going to be tabled in due course."
}