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{
"id": 1403602,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1403602/?format=api",
"text_counter": 249,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mandago",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13577,
"legal_name": "Kiplagat Jackson Mandago",
"slug": "kiplagat-jackson-mandago"
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"content": "I do not understand how new projects that did not have budgets in the first place, crop up in the middle of the financial year. This is re-budgeting within a budget without approval and public participation, therefore, creating wastage in terms of stalled projects and ballooning the pending bills. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other area that the CoB must be keen on and I think this House must review in terms of the formula for allocation of resources, is the requirement for increase of own source revenue. Majority of counties are not being honest in the capacity and resources available to be generated through own source revenue. Counties that are honest have suffered the consequences of getting less resources because of that factor of increase in own source revenue. That factor does not have any scientific formula for measuring. I remember, in the second term, a county would get an increase of Kshs600 million for just increasing revenue by Ksh10, 40, 50 million, compared to what they would have projected. Then, the percentage would look big and they would get additional resources; yet, they have no capacity to raise those resources. The CoB must interrogate the own source revenue figures being given during the budget making process to ensure that counties are not spending money they will not be able to raise. These pending bills have become a very bad practice in county governments and even the national Government. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we thank the President because, in the national Government, resources have been set aside and a pending bills committee is working to ensure that only verifiable and payable pending bills are paid, so that enterprises and business people can go back to business. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to agree with the Senator for Marsabit. If you delay paying your taxes, there is a penalty and there is no room for negotiations. Consequently, when the government, either the county or the national delays in paying our suppliers, then the penalty accruing from delayed payments, must also be paid. It cannot be that it is good when citizens are paying penalties and when the government is supposed to be paying penalties, there is a problem. These business-people have suffered for many years because of not paying their bills. I support they should be given some form of compensation for the delay of their payments. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in order to avoid the issue of pending bills, the CoB in approving release of funds, because that is based on certificates and the minutes of receiving goods, services or completion; the date the certificate is received and authorized by the county, should be the time that bill is due and as per the contract clauses. Those contracts or services rendered must be paid for at whatever period of time that is required to be paid within. This will be the only way we will grow the private sector and create employment. The Government alone cannot address the issue of unemployment. This administration is keen in supporting young people to innovate, particularly in using technology. That is why the national Government has rolled out a vibrant digital economy by establishing and installing all the fibre networks across the country for the internet to be available. 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."
}