Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 1427267,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1427267/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 345,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mumma",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "integrity like the one we currently have, we will be able to call out counties that are pilfering money through other means. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the National Treasury should also be held accountable and responsible on the expenditure by the national Government. We rarely get to know how much the national Government is supposed to disburse to different counties for development. I have brought a Question, but I do not know whether the Cabinet Secretary will come tomorrow--- The laws we make seem to keep the National Treasury above reproach as though it does not have accountability responsibilities. Whereas the National Treasury keeps monies for the nation, it is also a national Government entity. We need to hold them accountable for the budgets they propose. I believe that as we strengthen the counties, it will help if we equally strengthen the national Government. Our counties are the recipients of development budgets of the national Government. So, we have a responsibility as the Senate to also hold the National Treasury accountable on budgets that the national Government receives on development for the nation. As I speak about accountability, let us not make it appear as if the National Treasury is good and knows it all. We need to strengthen both levels in order to deal with this issue. I am happy that we will require quarterly reports to come to the Senate. The Committee on Devolution and Intergovemental Relations should so often report on how counties are performing on different issues in relation to revenue collection, expenditure and revoting of monies not spent in a financial year. That way, we will be able to call out and the people of Kenya will know how their counties are performing on a particular issue and if they need to do better or if they are doing well. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, with those proposals, I support this Bill and acknowledge that we need to strengthen laws relating to accountability to ensure that all goes well. I was about to forget a very important issue. Sen. Hamida, I hope you re-look at this. In Clause 6(4), you have provided that a national Government entity to which a county government function has been transferred shall submit a quarterly report to the Senate and respective county assembly. Functions can only be given to the national Government or county government. They are not given to a national Government entity. It is only the national Government that can take responsibility for a function that it has taken. I think you will need to revise that so that we do not give the impression that it is possible for a county government to transfer, for instance, a function to a parastatal. That is not provided for in our Constitution. Functions belong to the national Government and county government. They do not belong to national Government entities. So, I suggest you correct. Functions can only go to the governments and not government entities. Thank you very much."
}