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{
    "id": 390452,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/390452/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 217,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Obure",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 118,
        "legal_name": "Christopher Mogere Obure",
        "slug": "christopher-obure"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, Madam Temporary Speaker, for allowing me to make very brief comments on this Motion. First of all, I want to appreciate the initiative taken by the Senator for Kisumu and, in particular, to appreciate his interest in deepening democracy, which has been demonstrated through his interest in raising this matter here. Madam Temporary Speaker, the objective of the Political Parties Fund is to provide financial support to registered political parties with a view to strengthening the parties as critical vehicles for anchoring and promoting democracy and nurturing good governance and leadership. The political parties, therefore, play a critical role and those functions of political parties must be sustained at all times. Any delay in distributing these funds to the political parties disrupts and, indeed, compromises the effectiveness of the political parties in the performance of their functions. The law provides that the amount to be distributed to the political parties be based on a formula of 0.3 per cent of annual estimates. My calculation will, therefore, indicate that the parties will be entitled to approximately Kshs3 billion out of the Consolidated Fund, based on the annual estimates of the current financial year – although I hear that only Kshs344 million has been set aside for distribution to the various political parties. Madam Temporary Speaker, the law also provides that this money should be distributed to the political parties immediately at the start of every financial year. The law does not say that the money would be paid out in tranches or in installments. Continued delay in releasing the funds to the political parties is clearly in violation of the law and cannot be justified in any way; of course, there is no way we will justify violation of the law. Madam Temporary Speaker, the same law also prevents political parties from receiving foreign donations or from relying on a few individuals – the owners or the top management of those parties. The law prevents parties from relying on funds from foreign sources or from a few individuals because it is that control and the influence from The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}