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{
    "id": 1433738,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1433738/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 105,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ugunja, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Opiyo Wandayi",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Deputy Speaker, I commend the Budget and Appropriations Committee for the good work it has done in the last couple of weeks. I can see my friend, Hon. Babu Owino. I do not know which other members of that Committee are here. Hon. Mwashako, the Chairman of Coast Parliamentarians, Hon. Atandi, Hon. Ruth Odinga and many other Members are here. They have done an exceptional job in the last couple of weeks, trying to deal with very serious issues. The first issue was that of mediation on the Division of Revenue Bill. They have also dealt with the issue of the main Estimates for the next financial year. And now they have dealt with Supplementary Estimates II. As I commend the Committee under the able Chairmanship of my good friend, Hon. Ndindi Nyoro, let me say one thing. We still have a problem with money earmarked for political parties. You recall that in Supplementary Estimates I, money that had been budgeted to fund political parties was reduced from Ksh1.4 billion to a mere Ksh600 million. That is a reduction by a whooping Ksh800 million. The Committee has attempted to remedy the anomaly by reinstating some money, a paltry Ksh200 million. I am saying this because I am aware that the parent Committee, which is the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, had not done justice to funding of political parties, in their report to the Budget and Appropriations Committee. But that is now water under the bridge. The Budget and Appropriations Committee has made some positive steps by allocating some money. But that is not enough, especially bearing in mind that none other than a court of law gave orders that the reduction in the Supplementary Estimates I was unconstitutional. I do not want to see a situation where this House continues to be bombarded with court orders on issues which are straightforward. The Political Parties Fund is ring-fenced under the law. Sections 23, 24 and 25 of the Political Parties Act are clear. The Political Parties Fund is 0.3 per cent of the total national revenue. In the same manner NG-CDF is ring-fenced, the Political Parties Fund is equally ring- fenced. I plead that in the new financial year we budget for political parties funding in accordance with the law. Once we do so, let us resist the temptation to reduce that money in subsequent supplementary estimates, because it is contrary to the law. Political parties are the foundation of our multi-party democracy. Functioning political parties are the basis of our multiparty democracy under the Constitution. We must work extremely hard and ensure as a House that we are not part of the forces that are seen as negating the spirit of multi-party democracy which is enshrined in the Constitution. As I conclude, I hope and pray that the money that has not been reinstated for funding political parties, will find its way in the main Budget for the Financial Year 2024/2025. It is incumbent upon all of us to do so. Sometimes people can argue, but the day you will kill political parties… I can see Hon. David Ochieng’, who is one of the leaders of political parties, looking at me."
}