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{
    "id": 455416,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/455416/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 213,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Njagagua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2336,
        "legal_name": "Charles Muriuki Njagagua",
        "slug": "charles-muriuki-njagagua"
    },
    "content": "people so that we cut down on the wage bill. However, it is necessary that the Government comes up with prudent ways and means of checking the wage bill. Hon. Deputy Speaker, in as much as we are giving money to the Government for expenditure in this Supplementary Budget, we must also appreciate that it is on record by none other than the Cabinet Secretary for Treasury that a substantial part of our budget – about 30 per cent - goes to waste. I call on the Treasury and the Government to come up with ways of sealing the loopholes where money is being lost. It is unfortunate that in this country, when you hear of issues like procurement, that is where corruption lies. We have heard of the laptop issues. They are causing a lot of heat. When the year began, there was the issue of the railway line. Just the other minute, a Member has been talking about “Anglo-Fleecing” or was it Anglo-Leasing? On a daily basis we are confronted with issues to do with procurement, be it at the CDF level or the county level. We all know what transpired the other day when a governor was being impeached. You appreciate that what formed the basis of that impeachment was procurement. So, in as much as we are giving this money, I must call upon all and sundry, and especially those who are concerned with matters of procurement, to be prudent. They should not siphon the money for their own use. We must also appreciate that functions have been devolved. We have separation of powers. Let each and every arm of the Government carry out its work independently, without encroaching onto each other’s mandates. This will reduce the friction between the Legislature, Judiciary and Executive. We have the constitutional mandate to make laws and even amend them. We also have the powers to appropriate money and budget for it. Why am I saying so? Just a few minutes ago, a Member was talking about Anglo-Leasing and wondering why the Committee has set aside money to pay those contracts. I believe that, as Parliament, it is incumbent upon us to see what is good for this country. I know we have a report which is out there in the world; that this country is spending huge sums of money to settle legal fees and yet, in all those matters, we are losing. The Kenya Government is losing all the cases that have been filed by Anglo-Leasing companies. It is high time that, as a country, we bite the bullet and face the facts. We should say that since we are losing in all the matters that are being filed in the international courts – we even lose when we go for arbitration – we must pay those contracts and move forward. This will redeem our credibility and credit worthiness in the international community. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I must say without mincing words that time has come for us to settle those debts and we must do it. However, it is unfortunate because contracts were entered into and cases filed. The end result is that we are losing out as a country. So, hon. Deputy Speaker, I stand here to support this Report and also call upon the Auditor- General to do his work without fear or favour. If anybody is culpable, let the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) drag them to court."
}