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{
    "id": 71454,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/71454/?format=api",
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    "content": "procurement officers procure equipment and subsequently steal it. A case in point is this one I have mentioned where Kshs64.3 million was lost. We noted that the engineer in charge had sought some official direction in the matter and was informed that consideration could be made in case the supplier had no bank account. We have recommended that the Accounting Officer should ensure that this practice is completely stopped as it is prone to corruption and other malpractices. Suppliers and service providers who fail to open bank accounts with a view to encouraging cash payments should be excluded from tender awards. The final example I want to give is the issue of the Strategic Grain Reserve Trust Fund. This was a matter that took centre-stage in this House. This pertains to the way maize was lost at the SGR. Maize worth Kshs2.1 billion was delivered at the SGR. However, when the auditors went there, they found a loss of Kshs152.3 million. When pressed to account for this loss, the Controller and Auditor-General was told that, in fact, the loss was a normal one. They said the loss was normal as it was as a result of drying of maize. They said that the moisture content of maize dropped after drying. They also said that natural drying levels were below the standard and that removal of foreign materials from the maize also contributed to the loss. All these factors, according to them, are supposed to have accounted for the loss of Kshs152.3 million. This is one of the many conduits that senior officers and those in responsible positions use to siphon public funds. As I request this House to pass this Report, I want hon. Members to conceptualize in their minds how a National Assembly can allow its oversight role to fall short of performance by accepting that a public officer, say, a Permanent Secretary, or a Minister, can walk away with Kshs152.3 million and just say that it was a normal loss that resulted from the difference in moisture content of maize. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, those are the highlights that I wanted to make for this financial year. I have kept it brief and I want to end by registering my appreciation to all those who appeared before us, the Clerk of the National Assembly for the support that he has given us, Members of the Committee and Ministers who ensured that accounting officers appeared before us. With those many remarks, I move and request Dr. Nuh to come and second the Motion."
}