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{
    "id": 1555540,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1555540/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 400,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "month. This does not mean that these girls are sick. It is a natural thing and the attention of the country should be drawn to it. We have seen pull and push between the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs and Ministry of Education on the issue of budgeting. As we talk today, no one can say that in the appropriation of budget, it should be within the Ministry of Education or Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs. I want to build the picture for the House to understand. In the Financial Year, 2023/2024, the Government appropriated Kshs940 million to be used for purchase of sanitary pads in our public institutions, especially the schools. This was double what had been allocated the previous Financial Year 2022/2023 where Kshs470 million had been allocated. In the Financial Year 2024/2025, the amount that is to be used to buy sanitary pads for our school-going children in public institutions and women in correctional facilities across the country tripled. So, we are talking of Kshs940 million and Kshs470 million. You will realise that four months into the financial year, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs has not supplied sanitary pads to our learning institutions and correctional facilities. That is why I want to challenge the National Assembly. I know the Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement Party (ODM) has said that we wait for them to do what His Excellency, Raila Amollo Odinga, directed them to do. However, this is the work they should be doing. In two financial years, they appropriated almost Kshs1.7 billion and no one has audited that amount. The National Assembly must be called out for incompetence. This is the oversight they should be doing instead of encroaching devolved functions like the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) of Kshs11 billion. The National Assembly must be called out for being inept, moribund and ineffective in the oversight of public funds like the money that was appropriated for the purchase of these items. It was in their budget which we appropriate as a Parliament. Article 114 of Constitution addresses money Bills and the budget making process. The budget making process is the work and domain of Parliament. It is not an exclusive function of the National Assembly. We have litigated this matter up to the Supreme Court. It started with the petition of 2013 when the National Assembly wanted to lock out the Senate in division of revenue. We have litigated this matter and the courts have ruled that the budget making process is the work of Parliament. Under Article 93 of the Constitution of Kenya, Parliament is both the Senate and the National Assembly. Madam Temporary Speaker, the Kshs940 million and Kshs470 million that was allocated for the purchase of sanitary pads cannot be accounted for. That is why we are telling the National Assembly that they should oversight instead of encroaching on devolved functions like building markets and using National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) to give out bursary. For the first time, I agree unequivocally with the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga when he says that we, Members of Parliament, should work as per Articles 94 and 96 of the Constitution. We should do representation, legislation, oversight and budget making, including division of revenue to our counties. That is how we will be efficient. You cannot be a judge in your own case. You cannot have your cake and eat it. 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."
}