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{
    "id": 517452,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/517452/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 140,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Midiwo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 184,
        "legal_name": "Washington Jakoyo Midiwo",
        "slug": "jakoyo-midiwo"
    },
    "content": "Over the weekend there were many stories from Members of Parliament reacting to that particular ruling that I had sought from you. It has to do with an additional Kshs3 billion in this Budget that Members of that Committee have arm twisted the Executive to give them to do some public hearing about the Budget. My understanding was that you were going to issue a ruling. Just to bring it to your attention, this is a Parliamentary Committee of this House. For them to go and arm twist the Executive to move monies around so that each Member is allocated Kshs61 million--- The highest amount of the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) I have ever received since its inception is Kshs114 million yet some hon. Member purports to get more than half of what my constituency is getting for some purported public hearing. I have tried to engage Members of this Committee. Their reasoning is that Article 211 or 221, thereabouts, allows them to do it. That Article says that they may go and they must seek public hearings and in doing this particular paper, what they have heard must be factored in and must be considered. That is all it says. “Considered” does not mean being given money so that when you go to Gem or Ijaara, you are told we need a hospital or a school because education is a national matter and yet it was not factored, then they say they want to build for you a school. That cannot be the role of Members of Parliament. My understanding and we must be very clear that our role is to interrogate the Budget. We are participating – merely participating - in the Budget process. That hon. Members of this House will go and arm twist the Cabinet Secretary and say for them to accept his proposals, he must give their constituencies so much, is the truth. I was informed in the corridors today by a Member that hon. Midiwo is spoiling pork for them. I want to plead with you that we interrogate the provisions of the Constitution which allow this Committee to conduct public hearing. In any case, I have seen in the same BPS that we have proposed Kshs28 billion for Parliament which I am sure the Budget and Appropriations Committee has its Budget in there which includes the amounts for the hearings. This House must know we have gone through this before. The least we can do now is that the Executive is willing is to divide that money equally according to constituencies and take it to the CDF."
}