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{
    "id": 728670,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/728670/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 143,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Henry Rotich",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13142,
        "legal_name": "Henry Rotich",
        "slug": "henry-rotich"
    },
    "content": "governments to Kshs329.3 billion which is equivalent to 35.2 percent of the most recent audited revenues approved by the National Assembly. Our national development blueprint Vision 2030 envisions a nation that is moving to the future as one. In this Budget, we have provided Kshs410 million to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and Kshs106 million for national integration under the Ministry of Interior and National Coordination. On Public Financial Management, in the Financial Year 2017/18, the Government will continue to cut unnecessary expenditure and keep Government spending under control. To improve the implementation and absorption capacity of projects and curb non-priority expenditures, we have issued guidelines on how capital projects should be planned, appraised and evaluated before funds are finally committed in the Budget. In addition, to ensure prudent management of resources, the National Treasury is now in a position to operationalise the Treasury Single Account starting July this year. Further, to enhance public expenditure management, the National Treasury will review delivery processes such as transport services, financial and audit services in order to ensure value for money and efficiency in expenditure management. In his State of the Nation Address, His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta, emphasized the need to trim the public sector wage bill and supported the recommendations of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), which seek to reduce the salaries and allowances of State officers. We urge all stakeholders to support the work of SRC and ensure full implementation of the recommendations. Beginning July 2017, salaries and allowances of all public servants will be harmonised as per the guidelines provided by the SRC following the job evaluation exercise which resulted in an upward review of salaries for teachers and doctors and other public officers. We have set aside Kshs20 billion in this Budget to implement the first phase of the new review cycle of SRC amounting to about Kshs 84 billion in four years. In addition, and in the spirit of controlling the growth of the wage bill, new recruitments will remain frozen except for limited technical staff, security personnel, teachers and health workers. These actions will release funds for priority social sectors and critical infrastructure. On procurement reforms, the Government is in the process of improving the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal System, with the aim of managing our resources in an effective and efficient manner as provided for in the Constitution. The Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015 came into force on 7th January, 2016. Following this and with the aim of strengthening the realisation of the key principles and pillars of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the public procurement and asset system, we have now finalised development of Regulations and Code of Ethics for suppliers of the national and county governments. With the new Code of Ethics, we expect accountability on the part of those who do business with the Government to be enhanced. This includes the private sectors who have not been subjected to the same parameters as State and public officers in the fight against corruption until the recent enactment of the Bribery Act, 2016. The code is complementary to an earlier code issued to guide the activities of public officers responsible for procurement and disposal processes. In addition to the Code of Ethics, I will soon gazette the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Regulations, 2017. These regulations aim at facilitating procurement at both levels of governments. On financial sector reforms, about 75.3 percent of Kenyans now have access to financial services, a massive growth from the 26.7 percent in 2006. This growth has been driven by the mobile phone technology. Today, more Kenyans buy goods and services, and pay their bills 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."
}