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{
    "id": 1537828,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1537828/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 42,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kikuyu, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The most important thing I noted in this Bill is the additional resources, from appropriations-in-aid (A-in-A) to our universities and part of our healthcare sector like the national referral hospitals. As I mentioned during the debate, most of these resources result from the digitalisation of the resource mobilisation efforts in most of our parastatals. It is important to point out this because it has previously been a tradition that when we do the Second Supplementary Estimates, most MDAs get into a procurement rush to expend these resources ahead of the new financial year. The money appropriated, even from A-in-A, must be used in a very transparent and accountable manner. This is not only for MDAs that raise their resources but also for other entities like the Social Health Authority (SHA). This is important because even this morning, the Deputy Leader of the Majority Party tabled legal notices that will go towards enhancing the efficiency of the SHA programme. We must ask those agencies that get resources from member contributions to be accountable. This year, we have effected increments in contributions to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Additionally, there are resources, under pensions, contributed by Kenyans towards their care in old age. Therefore, NSSF contributions have increased almost seven-fold. Accountability of how money is invested and accounted for at SHA and NSSF is something that this House must pay attention to. We must hold the managers of these funds to account. This week, I received a Petition regarding NSSF dealings with Pergamon Investment Bank. I am going through it to understand what is happening. I mention this Petition to emphasise that there must be proper accountability for all these monies that Kenyans contribute and what we appropriate to MDAs. We must ensure proper accountability of all public resources through our Departmental, Audit and Appropriations Committees. That is why I took the liberty of sharing these sentiments during the seconding of this Bill. When I say public resources, it includes money that we appropriate to government agencies and what Kenyans contribute to funds like SHA and NSSF. These include the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF), which we still struggle with in Court. We have already published the Division of Revenue Bill for the next Financial Year. We pleaded with the Council of Governors (CoG) and the Senate that once we send the County Governments Additional Allocation Bill to the other House, they should be magnanimous enough to allow it to be passed, just as we did so that our counties can access this money. The Senate should also take its time to hold the governors accountable for the money they appropriate to them. Hon. Speaker, with those remarks, I beg to second. Thank you."
}