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{
    "id": 1375730,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1375730/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 164,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Methu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13581,
        "legal_name": "Methu John Muhia",
        "slug": "methu-john-muhia"
    },
    "content": "This afternoon we have passed the County Government Additional Allocation Bill, 2024 and I hope it will be assented to, so that more money is sent to counties. It cannot be that the people we invite to come and shed light on the usage of money are very happy and clap very hard. I saw governors when they had a retreat with the President in Naivasha. They were insisting that their money must remain at Kshs450 billion. They are very happy asking for additional resources to their counties. However, when we call them to come here and account for that money, we get a lot of problems from them. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to borrow from the words of the Sen. Cheruiyot and Sen. Mwaruma that we have been ridiculed by those that we invite for a long time. It is good that I elucidate this point. Before we summon a witness, there is an invitation that is, first, extended to him. The precedent that has been set, especially for the accounting committees is that those members of the county executive and the county assemblies that are supposed to appear before the two committees are given a one month notice. After one month of failing to appear is when we issue summons. There are some very ridiculous reasons as to why witnesses are not able to appear before committees. The other day, we were told by a governor that he could not able appear before CPAC because he was attending some prayers at some place that I would not want to mention. However, the same day in the morning when we were having a committee sitting, he was on a television show. They find more value attending a television show than coming to a meeting that has been called by the people of Kenya or a gathering of the people of Kenya. It is because of these excesses of some of our partners that we are supposed to work with, that we need to strengthen the Powers and Privileges Act. The other day also, the PICSF fined a governor and he was heard asking for an MPesa number he could send the Kshs500,000. He believes this is Kshs500,000 could easily be send via MPesa platform. They find that money too little that they can just miss appearing before a committee. The next meeting they fail to appear because they will pay a fine Kshs500,000. We must ensure that a person feels the pain so that they respect this House and its committees. We need to push the Kshs2 million that has been proposed by Sen. Osotsi to either Kshs5 million or Kshs10 million. People must understand how important it is to appear before Parliament to answer these particular questions. The final comment that I want to make on this matter is on a framework or mechanism. We must get a framework of ensuring that when a governor is fined, he pays fine. Failure to which is probably recovered from his account. If we impose a fine Kshs10 million on a certain Cabinet Secretary that has refused to honour summons of Parliament, how do we recover that money from his own account? It should be in law. We should propose that, if you are not able to meet your fine obligations, you should be listed in Credit Reference Bureau (CRB). As Parliament, we should have a mechanism of ensuring that if you have been fined by Parliament, that money has not been recovered, you are listed on CRB as a person who is not creditworthy so that you cannot get credit anywhere. Whether you are The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services,Senate."
}