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{
    "id": 624178,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/624178/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 205,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Wakhungu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1889,
        "legal_name": "Chrisantus Wamalwa Wakhungu",
        "slug": "chrisantus-wamalwa-wakhungu"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I have listened very carefully to my friend, Hon. Baiya, the Chair of the CIOC moving the Motion. I have also read the Report and some of the critical issues he has brought up are true. However, there are also other critical issues that we must examine and determine what we will do. For instance, in line with Section 15 of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, it is true that one of the critical functions of the TA was the transfer of functions, but it is not limited to that alone. If you go further, you will find that one other critical function of the TA was to audit and transfer assets and liabilities. I sit in the Public Investments Committee and Athi Water and Services Board officials appeared before us today. We had audit queries from the Auditor-General. There was a variance in its asset register to the tune of between Kshs2 billion and Kshs3 billion. When we asked them, they told us that that is not their work and that they are waiting for the TA to go and do the validation. We agree that the circumstances under which the TA has been working has been challenging. We have had teething problems and issues to do with the governors, senators and county assembly interests. The problem is on the critical function of audit of assets and liabilities and their transfer. I have had a chance to discuss this with my friend, Hon. Baiya, and he agreed with me that it is a challenge and that we have to see how to go about it. Right now, we are aware that Senator Wako, the former Attorney-General has brought a Bill in the Senate to amend the Constitution to extend the term of the TA. I also agree because I have had a chance with other colleagues to put the limitation of the three years. The question is: What are we going to do with these assets that we have neither audited nor transferred? We are likely to lose a lot of billions. These are public funds. What are we going to do? As we sit here, we must look for a friendly manner and an objective way of reasoning and say how we are going to trace these assets in terms of auditing, verification and transfer. I have listened to Hon. Baiya and also attended a workshop with him in Mombasa. One of the challenges that the TA said they were facing that made them not to complete the audit and transfer of assets was the challenge of budget. It is true. We understand that the Government is 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."
}