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"id": 37133,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Sambu",
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"legal_name": "Alfred B. Wekesa Sambu",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to second the Motion. Before I make my own remarks, may I just conclude the remarks that were supposed to be concluded by my chairman. Continuing with the same number five, the allocation by hospitality supplies and services to be cut by 25 per cent to get savings amounting to Kshs1,076,690,038. (6) The budget for office and general supplies and services should be allocated for the same amount as was in the revised estimates of 2010/2011. This will result in a saving of Kshs487,509,880. (7) The allocation for purchases of vehicles be reduced by 50 per cent, except the allocation for the Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security, that is the police, as well as the purchase of ambulances under the Ministry of Medical Services. This will create a saving worth Kshs971 million. (8) In line with the overall principle of re-orientating expenditure to priority areas, the grant to non-governmental organizations under Head D07 Subhead 0422 Item 221300 be revised to zero. This will free resources amounting to Kshs200 million. Under the Ministry of Finance, Head 136 D07 Item 221300 Other Operating Expenses, be revised to zero to free resources amounting to Kshs250 million. (10) A sum of Kshs1 billion be re-allocated under the Ministry of Finance, Item 2211300 as operating expenses under Vote R07 Head 1350000 Headquarters. (11) The item of furniture and fittings, telephone, telex, facsimile and mobile phone services and courier and postal services be maintained at the same level as it was in 2010/2011. This will create savings of Kshs264,405,967. (12) Additional funds amounting to Kshs845 million under Vote D18 Head 558 Item 2640500 in the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development and other capital grants and transfers be revised to zero. In conclusion, the above proposals of new areas of funding and re-allocation do not add an extra burden to the fiscal framework. Indeed, the Committee has adhered to total gross expenditure ceiling as presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Kshs1,153,000,000,000. Therefore, the recommendations by the Committee do not create additional financing gap. With that I now beg to second this Motion. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is the first budget under the new Constitution. It marks a radical departure from the past. It is the first budget whereby Parliament has the express authority to review the estimates and make adjustments which should be considered before the Budget is approved. Also, for the first time in the history of this country, the public has been given an opportunity to openly critique the Budget and give their recommendations on how it can be re-organized in order to better address their needs and priorities. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I seek to point out that the Budget Committee is the relevant committee as indicated in the Constitution under Article 221(4) and (5). Article 221(4) says:- “Before the National Assembly considers the estimates of revenue and expenditure, a committee of the assembly shall discuss and review the estimates and make recommendations to the Assembly.” Article 221(5) says: “In discussing and reviewing the estimates, the Committee shall seek representations from the public and the recommendations shall be taken into account when the committee makes its recommendation to the National Assembly.” Any adjustments that the Budget Committee has made to the Budget, therefore, are well within its powers as conferred by the new constitutional dispensation and thus the Committee has not overstepped its mandate."
}