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{
    "id": 554592,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/554592/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 204,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ng’ongo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Speaker, I think that Hon. Mutava Musyimi has got his facts wrong kidogo. This is because I know that we are supposed to have majority of governors, but we have a minority of one Senator - If I am not wrong. Anyway, that is besides the point. The Budget-making process is a long process. It starts from August and ends around this time which is end of June. Both National Assembly and the Senate need to appreciate that this is a long process. If you have issues, you need to raise them at the beginning, rather than wait until the end then you try to undo what has been done over the years. Budget-making process affects the economic fundamentals of a country. It affects the fiscal progress of a country. It is not a matter of just taking one figure from one vote and putting to another. It must be informed by serious debate and discourse.That is why public participation was built in our Constitution. Even the Executive, before they come up with the figures, there is need for them to engage with members of the public and conduct intersectoral discussions. The Government also needs to consult with the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) before the issues are finally brought to Parliament. So, for me, Kshs3.3billion may not be so significant in a Budget of Kshs2trillion. However, I agree with my colleagues that the principle is wrong. We need not to allow ourselves to play politics with Budget-making process of a country. If you play politics with the Budget of a country, you distort the economic stability of that country and the effects and results will be disastrous. If you distort the economic stability and the fiscal discipline of the country, you may even end up with inflation which affects even the poorest of the society. I want to ask our colleagues in the Senate that they should be careful. Let them not try to depict National Assembly as fighting devolution. Many of us The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}