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{
    "id": 39037,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/39037/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 557,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Mbadi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, initially I wanted to oppose this Motion. However, looking at the wider interests of this country, I beg to support it very reluctantly. The first issue I raised is with regard to the constitutionality. I want the Government to listen and understand that the budgeting making has shifted from the Executive to Parliament. That is the Constitution that we passed. Therefore, the Budget Estimates need approval by this House before we allow even one cent to be spent. We can wait for the Appropriation Bill, yes, but we cannot spend before the Budget Estimates are finally approved. That is the spirit of this Constitution. That is why the Constitution provides that the Minister should table Budget Estimates in this House, at least, two months before the end of financial year. By tabling these estimates, various Committees of the House will have enough time to look the Budget Estimates, revenue and expenditure proposed. If there any changes, they can propose those changes to Parliament. Then Parliament debates and approves the Budget. The only thing that is envisaged in this Constitution with regard to Vote on Account are circumstances where the end of financial year comes, and the Appropriations Bill has not been passed or has been passed but has not been assented to, to become Appropriations Act. I hope and believe with your ruling, we have not violated the Constitution, But I fear that we have. Having said that, I find it difficult to give this Government authority to spend up to 50 per cent of the Budget; yet it has not been able to explain the various revenue collections in previous years."
}