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{
    "id": 1395404,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1395404/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 260,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mandago",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13577,
        "legal_name": "Kiplagat Jackson Mandago",
        "slug": "kiplagat-jackson-mandago"
    },
    "content": "production in the rural parts of this country. The challenge has been how to move those goods to the market. That is why cartels thrive in this country because, they take advantage of the poor infrastructure network and a farmer who cannot transport their goods to the market because of poor road networks. Therefore, they devalue the productivity of that farmer in the rural part of this country while, we all know that agriculture remains one of the sectors that creates the largest percentage of employment in this country. I, therefore, support the Ministry and only ask that this time round, those processes must be completely transparent. We do not want situations such as what we witnessed in the Nairobi Expressway where, part of Government funds had been expended in development of that infrastructure but all the revenue that is being generated is going to a private investor. Of which, we are not sure because records have not been availed to this House, whether what the Government invested has been subtracted from the total investments that is now being paid through the use of those roads. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we also want to encourage the Ministry that as they seek international partners to develop these roads, Kenyans and locals with capacity should be given priority or at least, a certain percentage of that investment should be reserved for them. We have a very vibrant cooperative movement in this country. If you look at the resources the cooperative sector controls, it runs close to trillions of monies. Given an opportunity, these cooperatives can be part of those investing in this infrastructure so that Kenyans also benefit from these infrastructural developments. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I will emphasise the issue of pending bills. The Controller of Budget (COB) particularly for county governments, should not release funds in the next financial year unless counties have made provisions. Some debts have remained unpaid in several counties for more than six years. There is no way you expect that enterprise to continue being in existence if its funds are going to be withheld, not because that enterprise has not delivered service or goods but simply because, they did the work, delivered goods or gave service during a term of a previous governor. The trend in this country where payments to suppliers and business people are hinged on which administration is in office should come to an end. Once goods and services are consumed by the public and the Auditor - General has certified that indeed that expenditure was proper, then the service or the goods should be fully paid for by either level of Government or the Government agency that has utilised that service. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I support that we need to manage debt in this country and as a House, we still insist that we need a complete audit of all the debts we have in this country. It is not possible that we are still paying debts that were borrowed in the sixties and yet, we are not getting any records from the National Treasury of how much of these debts have been cleared, how many debts are due and how many debts are 10, 40 or 20 years old. The National Treasury cannot be just talking about debts. It is time they provided records of these debts because we could be servicing debts that we have already paid. I, therefore, ask the National Treasury even as we discuss this Debt Management Strategy, 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 and AudioServices, Senate."
}