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{
    "id": 1623112,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1623112/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 4539,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Makali Mulu",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. We understand that Hon. Mutuse is a first-term Member, but these things are usually done at the start of the Motion. I will try to be brief to save time, although this will depend on individual Members. I will be brief. I would like to appreciate the Departmental Committees for their presentations and the Budget and Appropriations Committee for their good work. Preparing this Budget was not easy due to the very restrictive fiscal space. On that basis, we are ready to see what can be prioritised in this Budget. As I debate this Budget, I want to focus on what must be done for it to make sense to Kenyans. And unless this is done, Hon. Temporary Speaker, it is likely to have minimal impact on the lives of Kenyans. The first thing that must be done is to ensure that Exchequer releases are done in time. As long as we have a Budget that is not supported by timely Exchequer releases, it will be a waste of time. Over time, we have been implementing Budgets at very low percentages due to a challenging environment in terms of exchequer releases. The second thing that must be done for this Budget to make sense is for this House, where we all sit, to ensure that recommendations from the Office of the Auditor-General are implemented. Through the Public Accounts Committee, we have many recommendations that have been adopted by this House, but have never been implemented. As a result, Accounting Officers continue to take this House for a ride because, as long as those recommendations are not enforced, they will continue doing the same funny things every day. The third thing that must be implemented or enforced is the issue of public debt. During this year’s Budget discussions, it was reported that the country had paid Ksh6.7 billion over the last three years in commitment fees. The country pays commitment fees for undrawn loans. That means we have signed for loans, but we have not drawn them. As a result, we have spent Ksh6.7 billion. You can imagine what this amount would do in terms of project The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}