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{
    "id": 1456892,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1456892/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 140,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13162,
        "legal_name": "Moses Otieno Kajwang'",
        "slug": "moses-otieno-kajwang"
    },
    "content": "management systems. However, the bigger weakness was their lack of ability or capacity to oversight the County Executive. Since I had spoken a lot on this matter on 30th April, let me summarize two or three issues. There is the issue of the Society of Clerks at the Table (SOCATT). The clerks who are sitting at the Table here belong to it and in the county assemblies, the clerks also belong to this society. However, it is a body that is registered and is not illegal, but it receives money from county assemblies. However, their accounts are not audited. Any public funds must be audited. We have declared that contributions to SOCATT by county assemblies are illegal and are a contravention of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act. However, we have given SOCATT an opportunity to come and engage the Senate. We have been generous and cleared our calendar to allow SOCATT to come before us two times, they have turned down our invitation. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) is also another body we have been liaising with on matters to do with the welfare of the MCAs. This body is not illegal and is registered as a society, so there is nothing wrong with it. The only problem is when county assemblies contribute Kshs3 million to CAF. A sum of Kshs3 million times 47 counties is clearly a lot of money. That money is also not audited. We do not get those financial statements. We have a problem with that. We have said that county assemblies must stop contributions to the CAF until we sort out the legal and regulatory issues and until CAF accounts are audited by the OAG. Again, the leadership of CAF is the Speaker for Elgeyo-Marakwet, hon. Sabulei. I have repeatedly asked him to come before the Senate and told him that our committees are ready and willing to engage with them because MCAs are our brothers and sisters. In fact, 90 per cent of the MCAs are persons of integrity who are properly spirited and persons who want good service delivery. What sometimes fails them is the leadership of the assemblies, that entity that we put called the CASB. Sometimes, they make decisions on contributions to CAF and yet, we have told hon. Sabulei, the Speaker for Machakos, who is the vice-chair and several other speakers who are members of CAF to come and talk to the Senate. The Senate is ready, open and willing to engage you. If you do not want to talk to the CPAC, go and talk to the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, chaired by Sen. Abass. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I know Sen. Abass has been working on some legislation that would give effect and power to CAF and SOCATT. Unfortunately, they have not appeared before me and I do not know whether they have made presentations in Sen. Abass’ Committee, but until that matter is resolved, those contributions to SOCATT and CAF shall continue to be declared as illegal and irregular. This Senate has allowed assemblies to undertake capital projects. In Isiolo, we went to see a County Assembly Chamber that is being put up. Unfortunately, as I said, the Speaker, the Clerk and everybody else disappeared. We only remained with the Serjeant-at-Arms and we could only stare and spectate. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you can recall that when we went to Turkana, they were putting up a grand county assembly chamber. We have allowed a number of counties 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."
}