GET /api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1446035/?format=api
HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 1446035,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1446035/?format=api",
"text_counter": 169,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 407,
"legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
"slug": "ledama-olekina"
},
"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, allow me to thank all the Members of the Senate who contributed to this Motion. This is an important Motion that deals with matters of due diligence and fiduciary responsibility. It is imperative that the recommendations proposed by the Committee, which I sit on, are adhered to. There is a big lacuna in the law on matters to do with funds given to the country by donors. For example, if you find that the National Treasury, which receives the funds, has another procuring entity for the Ministry for Health (MoH), it becomes problematic. I am happy that all Members who contributed to this Motion observed keenly and noted that when it comes to issues of specifications of mosquito nets, there are requirements by the MoH and the donor agency. These are issues that must be put in line and the role of the MoH must be clear. The biggest confusion that we noted when we were dealing with this matter is that just over night when the procurement process is almost coming to an end, the Cabinet Secretary wrote a letter saying that it should be halted because they did not include certain specifications. Truth be told. What we observed is that there was an interest by very strong people in this country; one on the right and the other on the left wanting to make sure that their companies are awarded contracts. That led to the Kenya Medical Supply Authority (KEMSA) losing a lot of money. It is important that the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act is amended and the recommendation by the Committee effected so that it becomes clear. We do not want to be losing money every time an agency is given money to procure certain services, for example, mosquito nets, and they want to make some commission out of it but the donor agency has set very stringent measures to be followed for them to qualify. If they fail, that agency ends up carrying out direct procurement. I thank all the Members and hope that this will be one of those reports that will be taken seriously and that this Senate, particularly the Committee that I sit on, will bring amendments, so that whatever has been agreed on can be implemented. I beg to reply."
}