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{
    "id": 437281,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/437281/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 515,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kembi-Gitura",
    "speaker_title": "The Deputy Speaker",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 242,
        "legal_name": "James Kembi Gitura",
        "slug": "kembi-gitura"
    },
    "content": " Order, hon. Members! This is the way I look at it and it will be my direction on this issue. We have debated on this matter the whole afternoon and I dare say that we have had a very enriching debate on the issues. I know that all of us are working towards the best of the betterment of what we can do for the counties. Therefore, I take it that everybody has made contributions in good faith towards that goal. However, the fact remains that in the course of debates – I hope that Senate Minority Leader is with me on this one – we had many points of orders, corrections and clarifications one of which – the HANSARD will bear me out – is on the issue we are discussing now. This was when Sen. Muthama rose very solemnly and argued about the figure of Kshs1.026 trillion vis-a-viz the figure of Kshs529.3 billion said to be the last audited accounts against Kshs226.2 billion which is said to be 43 per cent of the Kshs529 billion. As I stand here, I do not know what figures you are talking about when you refer to the Division of Revenue Act that was passed last year. Hon. Senators, the point I want to make is that when Sen. Muthama sought a clarification from the Chairman of the Committee, he explained candidly and said that there was a mistake. After he said that, we went on with debate and nobody raised an issue with him on that specific point. I now take it that there was a mistake which could also mean that the figure that Sen. Orengo has referred to and reiterated by Senators Muthama and Wetangula, could be correct. However, the Bill we have in front of us this night – this must be the third time I am saying this – has been generated by the National Assembly. If you look at page four footnote one, you will see, clearly, that these that the audited and approved accounts of 2009/2010. Article 20(2) of the Constitution talks about the last audited and approved accounts. That is the figure that we have in front of us. I have not seen an amendment from any Member or Senator. I have not seen anything else apart from the clarification that we got. Therefore, the direction that I give tonight, as sought by the Senate Minority Leader, is that we can only go by what we have. Seeing that I do not have an amendment in front of me or anything to show that we have moved on the wrong premise other than what the Chairman of the Committee gave us, as the figures and clarification when he talked, candidly, maybe we passed the wrong figure last year. These were based on what Sen. Kagwe says were the last audited accounts, but not approved accounts. So, we could have made a mistake last year. Should we also say that we have made the same mistake this year? I do not know, but the figure we have now of Kshs529 billion, as far as I can see, is the last audited and approved accounts. The accounts were approved by the National Assembly pursuant to Article 203(2) of the Constitution. I hope that this brings a closure to this argument so that we proceed with the issues we were discussing."
}