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{
    "id": 510417,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/510417/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 222,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Chanzu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 11,
        "legal_name": "Yusuf Kifuma Chanzu",
        "slug": "yusuf-chanzu"
    },
    "content": "dealing with postmortem. So, it becomes very difficult. Even if you find something wrong, sometimes you are just following. It is like following a horse that has bolted. It is good that the reports are up to date. The reason we voted these monies as Parliament is to ensure that citizens get value for money but now, when you hear about the misuse and misappropriations, it is absurd. I know there is the element of performance contracting in the Government, but we are running after a number of things. There is the issue of whether there is going to be timely spending of the money and whether all the money is going to be spent. There are too many targets that are being followed. Sometimes, you find that the money has been spent but has not been spent properly. For example, the money we allocate for projects like roads, I think we are not getting adequate feedback on the utilization of the money. The only thing that we end up getting an update on is that the money has been spent. But, sometimes, when you go and check, you find that the work has not been done properly. These are some of the recommendations that need to come out very clearly on the utilization of the funds. Let us, at least, have mechanism of getting feedback. It can only be done that way. It can only be useful if it is on time. That is why I think having reports that are up to date is a very important element. We have heard several times about the issue of wastage. Wastage is through corruption, misuse, wrong procurement procedures and substandard works or getting contractors who are not competent enough to do the jobs. It is only through these kinds of reports that we can be able to get highlights on where the weaknesses are so that we can remedy as we go along. We have talked about the county governments. It is true that because the records were not up to date, the county governments have complained that they are not getting adequate funds. But what I have been wondering is that the Constitution stipulates that they get a minimum of 15 per cent. The Constitution never talked specifically about 45 per cent or 50 per cent, but a minimum of 15 per cent. That means that they could get anything above 15 per cent. The only problem we have been having in the counties - particularly in my county of Vihiga County – is that they got a total of Kshs3 billion, but you cannot see on the ground what the money has done. Even if we say that they spent two-thirds on salaries and travel, if you look at a third of Kshs1 billion and compare with the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) we have been getting in the five constituencies in Vihiga County, which is about Kshs60million each, that is about Kshs300 million, you can see what the CDF has done but you cannot see what a billion has done in the county. So, I think there are issues that we need to address as we talk about giving counties more money. That is because the money is taxpayers’ money. They deserve to be given the money, but we must have adequate control which can enable us get value for money. It is very sad that the old mamas and the poor people work to get Kshs100 per day. They purchase items in which they pay Value Added Tax (VAT). That is the money that comes and then we share it out to get services, but you find that, that is not happening. In fact, I have seen some places where governors are using the money going to the counties as handouts. They call stakeholders’ meetings every week and in every location, they carry Kshs1 million which is distributed to the people. That is not what devolution was all about. As we talk about increasing the money, we should also have measures in place. The role of hon. Members here is to oversee the national revenue that goes out there. So, they have a role to play to ensure that money is put into proper use. Now, at least, we have standards and something to compare with. We can compare what CDF has done since 2003 with what is happening. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}