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{
    "id": 1414617,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1414617/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 356,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Makali Mulu",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Actually, that is Order No.12. As I was saying, having listened to the Chairperson of the Committee and the Chairperson of PAC two weeks ago, you realise that many of the findings are similar. What worries me most is that the PAC Report looks at the Ministries, and this Report focuses more on parastatals. It is very worrying when I see similarities in terms of recommendations both at the parastatal and ministerial level. One of the things we have always talked about, which is worrying, is the lack of financial statements or delayed provision of the same. We have hired qualified accountants in those organisations and institutions, most of whom are Certified Public Accountants of Kenya CPA (K)). Before they write their name, they indicate the title “CPA” implying that they have done accounting up to the highest level in this country. Why can they not provide financial statements on time? Unless it is a deliberate move to sabotage the whole process... I see a situation where this is being done deliberately over time to make sure that those who are accountable for those issues retire or leave office before the reports find their way to Parliament where they can be questioned. It is very difficult for our committees to ask hard questions to officers who are now sitting in those offices, who were not there when those bad things were being done. It causes a lot of confusion. We must come up with a way or a strategy of how to handle this matter as a House. Otherwise, this House will continue being a talk-shop but with no action. At the end of the day, Kenyans will never get value for their money. Look at the issue of pending bills. This is a parastatal. They normally get a one-line budget item where you give them a lump-sum and then they budget for their issues at that level. What happens? You give them that budget, they know very well they have pending bills but they do not pay. They go ahead to implement other activities and year-in, year-out, we continue reporting on pending bills. This is very unfair and, more so, when we are using public resources. The Constitution is very clear that we must use public resources prudently so that Kenyans can get value for money. Pending bills are killing our local business people. They supply goods and services, are never paid on time, and their businesses collapse because they have taken bank loans and yet, they have not been paid. The banks continue charging interest and over time, those small businesses collapse. We then talk about economic growth. How do you grow an economy if you do not pay people who supply goods and services? Another worrying issue has been reported. A Chief Executive Officer (CEO) takes the money of a parastatal or institution and procures Treasury Bills (T-Bills), which are later redeemed. As a result of that investment, the institution gets Ksh700 million. The CEO can then not account for that money. When he is requested to account for the money, there are delays in accounting. Those are the issues we have been talking about. The Government gives money to a parastatal, which is then used to buy T-Bills. The money earns interest for that institution and, at the end of the day, the CEO cannot account for it. Who loses? The Government loses. We have always said it is time this country came up with a single Treasury account so that the Government will never use Government money to buy T-Bills. Instead of borrowing money, the Government can use that money to implement programmes and projects. We will be helping this country. Any time we sit here and listen to those reports from our oversight committees like PAC and the Special Funds Accounts Committee, you start wondering how long this story of lack of accounting documents and financial statements, delayed financial statements, failure to The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
}