Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 1403450,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1403450/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 97,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wambua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13199,
        "legal_name": "Enoch Kiio Wambua",
        "slug": "enoch-kiio-wambua"
    },
    "content": "Mr Speaker, Sir, I will be brief, but precise. As said by my colleagues, there is no question as to how governors and county governments should treat pending bills. I take the position that the existence of pending bills in any county is a loud testimony of corruption, incompetence and blatant disrespect to the Constitution of Kenya and ordinary legislation. I say this because we all know that before a Chief Officer (CO) in any county government signs a contract to issue any contract to any contractor or supplier, they must do two things. First, they must confirm in writing that funds for a project are available. Secondly, they must ringfence those funds so that when works are completed, then contractors are paid. The issue of pending bills running into hundreds of millions should never arise, in the first place. When it does, then the law is clear that payment of any pending bill should become the first charge on the County Revenue Fund (CRF) Account. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you began in the morning by cautioning us and we take the caution seriously. You said that we should not degenerate into a House of lamentation. I want to urge my colleagues, guided by your directive, and on the strength of this Motion, that after the debate on this Motion, we make a resolution that will have far-reaching consequences to governors and county governments who accumulate pending bills. I have just consulted Sen. Sifuna. It is actually a shame that Nairobi City County, the seat of power of the National Executive, the seat of power of the National Parliament, and the seat of power of all Executive Offices, has accumulated pending bills amounting to Kshs107 billion. The annual equitable share to Nairobi City County is Kshs20 billion. What Nairobi City County Executive has done is that they have accumulated pending bills five times their annual equitable share through the Division of Revenue Act. 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."
}