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{
    "id": 237253,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/237253/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 237,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Muturi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 215,
        "legal_name": "Justin Bedan Njoka Muturi",
        "slug": "justin-muturi"
    },
    "content": "I was just looking for that Report which was purportedly laid on the Table here. It is titled: \"Report of the Finance, Planning and Trade Committee on the Finance Bill\". That is the heading, but if you open the first page, it is titled: \"Proposed amendments to the Finance Bill\". So, you wonder what that document really is. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I wind up, I want the Minister to address the issue which was raised by hon. Billow at length; the issue of Section 99(I) of the Constitution regarding any expenditures that do not go through the Consolidated Fund and which are not passed through an Act of Parliament or authorized through Vote on Account by this House, as is the case with the funds that go through the Governance, Justice, Law and Order Sector Reform Programme (GJLOS). When the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs was contributing here, she told us that those funds come to the Government through some financial management agency and they administer it on behalf of the Government of Kenya. I do not know, but are those funds gifts? When they expend them on behalf of the Government, are the people of Kenya going to pay yet this House never authorized those expenditures? It is immaterial whether the funds could be audited. I am the Chairman of the Public Investments Committee and we have seen some of the so-called \"reputable auditing firms\" acting in total disregard of the National Audit Act, which we passed in 2003. They are appointed by the Controller and Auditor-General to report back to him on the affairs of various Government agencies that they are appointed to audit under the law. In fact, I think that under Section 34, they are clearly not allowed to publish any reports, but they do it with such reckless abandon that you cannot believe it! So, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for me, it is not enough that the Minister will stand here and tell us whether those funds are expended in which way or whether the funds are audited in accordance with international standards. That is not the issue! The issue is, were those funds expended according to Section 99 of the Constitution of Kenya which requires that this House authorizes any expenditure? Clearly, on the admission of the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs as she contributed, she said that it is a very unsatisfactory state of affairs and that the Government is looking into it. That means that the Constitution has been abrogated! We want a clear statement from the Minister when he replies, so that, at least, Kenyans can be reassured that what is spent on their behalf is not done against the Constitution. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to support."
}