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{
    "id": 1545208,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545208/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 258,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I do not want to repeat myself. I appreciate all colleagues who have contributed to the MTDS that we embarked on as a committee. I thank my colleagues, starting with my Chairperson then my very good friend, Sen. Eddy, for the high commitment and the rest of my colleagues as well. Madam Temporary Speaker, just to mention a few things. As a country, we sometimes go wrong by politicizing everything. The matter before us is very critical. Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy (MTDS) is a matter that every year as a House we prosecute. It is so sad at times when we do not see the bigger picture. These issues of debt are not personal, but are going to affect our future generations if we, as leaders, do not address them. It is our right to question expenditure. Let us tell each other the truth that one of our key responsibilities is oversight as MPs. The National Assembly oversights the national Government and the Senate oversights the counties. Certainly, when we talk about these debts that are in place, it is our responsibility to get the audit reports, analyze them and give correct recommendations. Mwananchi has vested that mandate in us. The other time the President proposed a committee and due to politics was rejected. I am happy that the Ministry of Finance and National Planning has taken up and is ensuring that the Auditor-General can give both Houses of Parliament, a report on the level of debts, where we are with the debts on repayment and duration. Currently we are at 65 per cent debt of the PFM Act required mandate of 55 per cent of the GDP. These are concerns that are all for us. It should not be deviated to individuals, then we lose the focus on how as a House, we should play our role. We should be focusing on ensuring that the Ministry of Finance and National Planning shows these Houses how it will ensure that it comes from 65 per cent to the 55 per cent which is within the PFM Act, as that is what is currently in law. As a House and a committee, we made recommendations, especially when it comes to the IFMIS. It should be a system that can ensure all debts such the pending bills are paid within the recommended time. We talked as a committee and said that by 31st May, 2025, any debt should automatically be paid using the Consolidated Fund, among many others. Madam Temporary Speaker, because time does not allow, I thank all the stakeholders and the secretariat who have been able to support us. 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."
}