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{
    "id": 489807,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/489807/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 69,
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    "content": "and, therefore, it is important that we pass the Bill very quickly so that it can get the presidential assent and the counties can access the money. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I just want to believe that the National Assembly made this amendment in good faith, which is to hasten the release of the funds to the counties. Because I read some mischief in this; and as you correctly said, if the purpose was to hasten the process of the release of funds to the counties, then this amendment has done exactly the opposite of that because of the procedures, bureaucracies and the laws that we have laid down in our Standing Orders for us to pass the amendment that they passed. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as we pass this amendment, we know that funds will now be released to the counties. We will reiterate here once again that the Treasury must expedite the release of funds to the counties without any further delays. We want to avoid a situation whereby at the end of the financial year, some counties have had to take back money to the Treasury, not because of problems of their making, but because of late release. I sit in the County Public Accounts and Investments Committee (CPAIC) Chaired by Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, and we have questioned a number of Governors as to why their counties returned funds to the national Treasury. Their response has been that some of the tranches of those funds come towards the very tail end of the financial year, therefore making it very difficult for them to spend the monies. So, we want to urge that this time, we do not want to see a repeat of that in this financial year; counties must receive money well in advance so that they can plan to use it and use it before the closure of the financial year. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, Sir, we also want to reiterate to the Governors that as we struggle hard to push these funds to them, they must take responsibility and they must be accountable. Accountability is a responsibility that you cannot run away from and we will insist on that. You may run – to courts or to wherever else you want to run to – but you will not hide; we will catch up with you; the law will catch up with you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to support."
}