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{
    "id": 712922,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/712922/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 367,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "We will not go into further details on this issue because the Division of Revenue Bill and the County Allocation of Revenue Bill will come at an appropriate time when we will discuss this issue. However, I would like to raise a number of issues:- (1) The commitment of the Government, both at national and county levels to the BPS. This statement informs the economic policies, and, therefore, determines how resources are allocated based on the priorities of the government at both levels; but when the budgets are done, both levels tend to move away from these estimates sometimes significantly. We have seen it in the national Government but in counties, it is even worse. These are not academic papers or papers just done for the sake of it. They are supposed to guide and influence the budgeting process, and therefore, both levels must strictly adhere to the provisions of these policies once they are approved by both Houses. (2) I must also express concern on the utilization of these resources at both levels. This Policy Statement does not dwell at length on the challenges being faced on utilization; not just on absorption capacities in both levels but on misuse, misappropriation, mismanagement and literally corruption at both levels of Government that is denying Kenyans the opportunity to benefit from these resources. This is an area of major concern. Reports for 2014/2015 have been published with regard to the counties. It is estimated that as much as half of the entire revenue which went to the county governments, may not have been accounted for. That money is likely to have disappeared. County governors made one of the dumbest statements I have ever heard. They blamed the entire looting on Integrated Finance Management Information System (IFMIS). A system is as good as its users. So, when you created fictitious debts and pay, you cannot say that IFMIS is responsible; or many other inflated contracts, procurement process that have been used which are inimical to the laws that we have. Therefore, IFMIS is not the problem. It is the use; the lack of integrity. Governors have a responsibility under Section 30 of the County Governments Act. They are responsible. They are the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs). The buck stops with them on the management of resources in the counties. Therefore, to blame the system is wrong. The system is not wrong. There is massive mismanagement and looting which is going on in our counties. The county governments must be held to account. I appreciate the work the Senate is doing in this regard. In addition, there are misplaced priorities and lack of value for money. In some of the counties, you will find white elephant projects. They have stalled. They cost billions of shillings yet they have not been completed. This is matter of concern. More importantly, as I conclude, the issue of pending bills is a time bomb. We have seen, starting from my county where the auditor says it was Kshs2.6 billion in June, 2015. Today, the figure could be double that amount. It is happening everywhere. The governors, who will inherit in the next dispensation, will have counties that will have been burdened by debts. They will not be able to pay because under the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, there should not be any debt. The Controller of Budget approves money for them based on requisition for specific projects. It is important that those issues are addressed by the counties, especially, the county assemblies which have a clear responsibility under the Constitution to ensure that money is spent well. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, without spending a lot of time, I urge Members to look at this BPS which is what the Government says they have done and will do. Some of 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"
}