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{
    "id": 707029,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/707029/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 18,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to raise three issues which are fundamental. It is important that we discuss this matter critically. First, we have been let down by the leadership of this House. The Kenya National Assembly is known to all and sundry in this country to take instructions from the Executive. If the President of this country and his Deputy want to empower the Senate by giving Kshs1 billion, that directive will go to that House and the Bill will be passed in minutes. It has happened and it can happen. However, if the Executive is not keen, we will make a thousand regulations and send them to the National Assembly but they will never be passed. I think Members of the National Assembly are clear in their minds. They do not want the Senate to be empowered. I think the reason is because they take instructions from the Executive which does not seem to take this House seriously. Therefore, it is time we now ask the hard questions. What exactly is the leadership of this House doing with regard to facing the Executive on this matter of empowerment of this House? We are not asking for the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) to build roads but we are asking for money to exercise oversight. They allocate Kshs300 billion to counties but the Auditor-General said counties cannot account for half of that money. This is a case of what the British call being pennywise and pound foolish. You cannot deny people to spend Kshs1 billion to look after Kshs300 billion but you are ready to lose Kshs150 billion. Yesterday, governors issued a statement. They said that the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) is responsible for the theft. How can the IFMIS be responsible for stealing money? It is individuals who manipulate the system. You cannot buy a bottle of water in any county in this country without the approval from the county governor and that is known. There is no County Executive Committee (CEC) member for finance or any Ministry that can buy a bottle of water without the governor knowing where the invoice is going to. There is no way you can approve any transaction in the IFMIS. In fact, even the signatories themselves said that they do not know who appoints signatories. Each CEC is required, through the governor, to submit in writing to the IFMIS Director Accountant General two names of the signatories. Yesterday, they said that they do not know how that thing works and how money is stolen. They do not believe and trust the Auditor-General. They rubbish what the Controller of Budget and Senators say. They call Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) names. They now want the IFMIS scrapped. They are given Kshs300 billion but they transfer the money to their accounts. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the President should be committed on this matter. If he wants us to save this country money, he must empower this House. The National Assembly takes instructions from only one person. Last time when they wanted to refuse to pass the Budget because of the NGCDF, they were called over lunch for a half an hour, just five minutes to time, and told to go and pass it or else they should know where they would go. They rushed to the House and passed the Budget. Therefore, if the President wants to save this country a hundreds of billions being stolen in the counties, he should empower the Senate. It has come to haunt us since money has disappeared. Lastly, it is time our leadership played hard ball with the National Assembly. Some of us have suggested many times to go to court. Let us not have mercy on anybody. Let us go and stop the NGCDF. Let us go and stop all the money being put aside. In spite The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}