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{
    "id": 1505606,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1505606/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 222,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mandago",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13577,
        "legal_name": "Kiplagat Jackson Mandago",
        "slug": "kiplagat-jackson-mandago"
    },
    "content": "We cannot solve a problem by creating another problem. Therefore, I persuade my colleagues, hon. Senators, that indeed, we have a mandate to protect devolution, which includes making sure that we are realistic. That the suppliers and contractors in the counties will be paid by voting in revenues that will be accessed and available. It should not be lost on us that the same people who are against the revenue- raising measures would still want increase of share of revenue to counties. As Kenyans, we must begin having a very honest conversation, particularly on development. We have a choice as Kenyans to decide to reduce the taxes we are paying and also reduce the expectation on development, both from county and the national Government. We, therefore, have to live within the revenues that we shall be able to raise. On the issue of release of funds, we appreciate that there has been a delay in disbursement to counties. I agree with Sen. Okiya Omtatah that the National Treasury, as currently set, behaves and acts as an agent of the national Government. In fact, as a House, we should begin considering amendments to the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, 2012 and make the National Treasury independent and have an independent Ministry of Finance for the national government. This will ensure that the National Treasury serves the two levels of government fairly, equitably and in a manner that promotes the two levels of government growth. As it is, when it comes to disbursement of funds, priority is being given by the National Treasury to the national Government. I say this from experience. You would find salaries for county government staff delaying while their counterparts in the national Government receive their salaries earlier than even 30th of every month. The National Treasury should realise that it serves the two levels of government and must make sure they are fair in their processes. The other problem that comes with disbursement of funds is the issue of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS). I do not know whether the system is old and needs to be re-engineered or we need to do away with it and get another system. The downtime of that system, especially towards the end of the financial year has always been almost 50 to 60 per cent. This makes it difficult for counties to pay their suppliers and contractors on time because of the downtime that is experienced on the IFMIS. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the downtime of IFMIS sometimes has been used by the National Treasury actually to manage disbursement to counties. We do not want the culture that we have seen in the past in National Treasury. The funds to counties must be disbursed on time. We do not want the National Treasury, which publishes every end of year on the 30th June, amounts of money available in the County Revenue Accounts (CRA); money that was sent a day or three days before the end of the financial year and expecting counties to expend those funds within the three days. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as a Senate, we should amend the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act to make sure that the National Treasury is independent and makes it possible for counties to access money on time. On the issue of the office of the CoB, I want to agree with my colleague Sen. M. Kajwang', that the inefficiencies that we have in the office is a system issue and a process issue. We need to have a conversation with the CoB on automation of the processes. 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."
}