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{
    "id": 1527018,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1527018/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 168,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Emuhaya, ANC",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Omboko Milemba",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "In particular, matters relating to public participation are equally touched in Article 221(5) of the Constitution. It indicates: “(5) In discussing and reviewing the estimates, the committee shall seek representation from the public and the recommendations shall be taken into account when the committee makes its recommendations to the National Assembly”. It has been the practice of this House that in every budget making process, the Budget and Appropriations Committee moves around five or more counties to conduct public participation. Usually, they are allocated about Ksh2 billion for the five counties where public participation is to be done. During this Session of Parliament, this happened and about 21 counties benefited. In last year's public participation, Vihiga among other counties had their chance for public participation. It was insinuated that public participation would continue and all counties would benefit. Following what happened in the Budget and Appropriations Committee, and possibly that is why we are changing its leadership, they misused the clause on public participation by increasing that figure from Ksh2 billion to over 10 billion. A guillotine was placed on public participation that disadvantaged Vihiga and other counties which I will speak on. Money was genuinely allocated for public participation but it is not known where the additional money went. You find that one constituency was allocated up to Ksh1billion for public participation. This is not part of the real public participation that is provided for by the Constitution. Therefore, my county, Vihiga, lost on roads, schools and all the money it was allocated because of public participation. I beseech the committee that is now looking at the Supplementary Estimates to bring back the money that is genuinely for public participation and not the extra that was allocated by those in power at that particular time. They ended up misusing that clause so that the constituencies and counties that were supposed to get the monies genuinely lost. Finally, this should be a caution to those serving in these committees. A very good thing and practice by this House can be rendered useless, if it is abused by those in position as chairpersons of committees. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}