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{
    "id": 226529,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/226529/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 324,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Raila",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 195,
        "legal_name": "Raila Amolo Odinga",
        "slug": "raila-odinga"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there was a case of somebody who tendered to supply the Government with stationery at a cost of Kshs35 million. When his company was unable to supply the stationery, the contract was cancelled. The Government then re-advertised the tender and this company participated again in the tendering process. But this time, it lost the tender and it went to court challenging the cancellation of the original tender. The company was awarded some damages to the tune of Kshs75 million. That money was not paid and kept on piling as pending bills and interest. By the time I came into the picture, this company was demanding Kshs250 million. This figure increased to more than Kshs500 million. This is despite the fact that these people were not able to supply anything after they tendered for Kshs35 million and the Government cancelled the contract. They are now demanding more than Kshs500 million. To my surprise, a letter had come from the Attorney-General's office directing the Ministry to pay them, arguing that the money was due and payable, despite the fact that the company did not supply a single item to the Government! So, I am saying that the problem lies within the Attorney-General's office. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, I want to say this. I mentioned earlier that I appointed a Committee to investigate pending bills and I laid that Report on the Table of the Cabinet. As a result, a Committee headed by the former Controller and Auditor-General, Mr. D.G. Njoroge, was appointed. That was in 2003. It took my first committee four months to carry out investigations and submit the report. But as I am speaking today, the Committee of Mr. D.G. Njoroge has not finalised its work. The issue of pending bills has not been finalised to date, and I am sure that there is no intention to complete it soon, because all those pending bills which I said were not due or payable, have been paid quietly! So, there is collusion with officers in the Treasury to pay some of the pending bills. Even if the respective Ministry stopped payment, the Treasury will proceed to pay. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am saying here that one of the biggest failures of this Government is to fight corruption."
}