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{
    "id": 561219,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/561219/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 225,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mulu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1955,
        "legal_name": "Benson Makali Mulu",
        "slug": "benson-makali-mulu"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me the chance to second this Motion. Just as the Chairman of the Committee has said, the Budget and Appropriations Committee took a lot of time to discuss these Supplementary Estimates, as this is the second one. We support the submission by Treasury in relation to the increment they have done in terms of changing money for particular departments and Ministries. Even as we do that, as my Chairman has said, we have a number of concerns. It is important to put these concerns on record. My first concern relates to Article 223 of the Constitution, which talks about Supplementary Estimates. This is where Treasury is only allowed to change the Budget by a maximum of 10 per cent but as you can see, they have gone beyond 10 per cent. We are now talking about 15 per cent because of the special nature of the increment in terms of infrastructure development and more so the Standard Gauge Railway, which the Committee has approved. As we move forward, it is important that this is not repeated as it contravenes the Constitution. It is important that we plan well. Reviewing the Budget upwards by more than10 per cent is a clear indication that you do not get the planning aspect of it correctly. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I want to congratulate the Committee because we rejected a proposal to move Kshs3 billion from the Equalisation Fund and allocate it to other development projects. The Constitution is very clear, in Article 204, that for any money to be withdrawn from the Equalisation Fund, there is need to consult the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA). Consultation has not been done. On the basis of that, we rejected that reduction. According to me, that is the right way to go. I ask the hon. Members of this House that we make sure we facilitate conclusion of the regulations required to have this Fund used by the marginalised counties. You realize the money was supposed to be used by 14 counties and this is the Third Budget we are doing as a House---"
}