Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 55951,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/55951/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 407,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Musyoka",
    "speaker_title": "The Vice-President and Minister for Home Affairs",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 188,
        "legal_name": "Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka",
        "slug": "kalonzo-musyoka"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to second this Bill. In doing so, I would like to assure this House that the concerns the hon. Members have with regard to the issue of the Constituency Development Fund is a concern that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance has agreed to address. I am actually informed that his commitment is contained in the HANSARD. I want to plead with my good friend, the chairman of the CDF Committee and Member for Turkana Central, to be understanding of this situation. Effectively, if we do not pass the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, the whole of the Government system literally comes to a standstill. What this means is that at the end of the month even Members of Parliament will have to go without their pay. I think the seriousness of this matter cannot be over- estimated. Therefore, I want to suggest that we take this matter with the seriousness it deserves, it being understood that the promise by the Minister for Finance who is also the Deputy Prime Minister will have to be made good in accordance with the provisions of the Standing Orders because now it is mandatory that before the end of this month he will have to place before the House the budgetary estimates for the year 2011/2012. This means that before the end of this month, the monies that are outstanding in the form of arrears with regard to the CDF will have to be made available and will have to be contained in the budgetary estimates by him. Therefore, I just want to urge hon. colleagues to please recognize the importance of this matter, so that we do not have to bring to a grinding halt the whole of the Government. Right now, no Ministry is able to access funding from the Treasury. This is how serious this matter is. We are called upon to act in a manner that is always in the best interests of this nation. All of us are Members of Parliament. In fact, we should thank the Member for Turkana Central for always standing strong when it comes to matters to do with the CDF. I think this point has been made. I want to plead that we pass this Bill, so that by Friday, His Excellency the President will have to issue the necessary warrants. Without this Bill, we are unable to proceed. For the record, I need to state that since Independence, this has been the procedure. The other day, we passed the motion on Supplementary Estimates. What we are doing today is a mere formality. I, therefore, want to suggest that we take it in that spirit and be able to get this country to move on. The most important business before us is what we have done today by shortening the publication period of necessary Bills which have to do with fast tracking the implementation of the Constitution. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this Government cannot fast track constitutional implementation if it comes to a grinding halt. This is what we are trying to avoid. I beg to second."
}