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{
    "id": 618740,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/618740/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 205,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The cooked up reasons that the Auditor-General is practicing nepotism in his office is something that must not be used to undermine the Auditor-General. If anything, the Government itself is on record in practicing nepotism. Just yesterday, as Mr. Simeon Kirgoti was being removed as Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), we know who was put there. Just recently, the Chief Executive of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) was being removed from that office as a woman, we know who was put there. There is a litany of examples of a perception by the Government that leadership in the public service must be dominated by individuals from only two communities. This is an unconstitutional, unpatriotic, anti-democratic and anti-people move by the Government. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, most important is that this backward practice in filling offices on a tribal basis must not be used to undermine the Office of the Auditor- General. Let me give notice to this Senate that those of us who have been in the forefront in fighting for the second liberation and upholding the principles and values in the Constitution will not sit down when this is happening. I think that is very clear. Putting the Office of the Auditor-General under siege is something that this nation must resist. Further, regarding the Committee on County Public Accounts and Investments, I was its Chairperson in the 7th Parliament – I think it was 1994, 1995 and1996. I know the enormous responsibility that such committees have in the defence of the wealth of this nation and investments that are put in place to advance this nation. We were the first to produce an extremely voluminous report – the fifth and sixth reports of the Public Investments Committee (PIC) that led to the enactment of the Economic Crimes and Anti-Corruption Bill and the setting up of the modern Economic Crimes and Anti- Corruption Commission. Therefore, these Committees can lead to substantial changes in the governance of this nation. So, I hope that we shall not only be given a good back-up of staff and research capacity in these committees because of the very important work of this Senate, but as we do so, the space that has been created for committees to work on set days, that is Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays morning, will definitely be dedicated to that work. Finally, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, let me talk about the Committee on Finance, Commerce and Budget, to which I also belong and to which my Chairman, Sen. Billow, spoke earlier. We are not discussing that Committee today, but this committee, which is closely related to the Public Accounts and Investments Committee is an extremely important Committee. It has other portfolios too but also works very closely with the offices of the Auditor-General, Controller for Budget and the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA). These three institutions, with regard to these two committees, are extremely important to this Senate. I hope that as we frequently have these kamukunjis, you will create some time during this Session that we have these two Commissions – Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), the Auditor-General and the Controller of Budget – in this Chamber. That way, our two Committees can ventilate --- in a kamukunji some of the problems that we are having in making sure that these institutions work properly. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes"
}