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{
    "id": 800727,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/800727/?format=api",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, if you compare the total county allocation, which in this amendment is reading 39.8 per cent, with these statistics, and with the current numbers, it is only 22.1 per cent. Let us not talk about numbers only because statistics also matter. This means we are giving misleading information for a simple reason. The National Assembly has failed to approve audit reports. The last one they approved was for the Financial Year 2013/2014, therefore, denying counties resources because they are entitled to 15 per cent, although now it is slightly more. If the other way was correct, then we would have no mechanism of challenging. In the budget process, budgets are estimates. I used to have a role when I was the Finance Manager in an organization where I worked previously. I used to ensure that the country programme had the correct budget for that year. On any budgeted item, I did not need other people who generated the budget to defend it as I knew what I was defending. Similarly, when we ask the National Treasury about leasing equipment all they say is: “It is the Ministry of Health.” What budget are you trying to bring if you do not know what you are bringing to the table? Therefore, they must be able to defend the budget that they are bringing on the table. Madam Temporary Speaker, budgets are also like a yardstick to measure performance. If grants and loans that are in the pipeline--- We are already in discussion and about to sign an agreement, I do not see why the National Treasury should not include that in the budget, especially when it is almost being concluded. This is because part of this amendment was brought to us for approval in February. We said that since there is not enough time to spend this money, we are not amending the previous budget, so let us include it in the coming budget. That was in February. The Division of Revenue Bill was also brought in February. However, what I do not understand is why that was not included in the Bill then and it is being brought now. The other question that we asked is when it would stop. For example, will we amend it every month because another grant is being approved? The other issue was why we could not synchronize our donor and grant approval given our budget cycle. Why could we not ask the donor to appreciate that so that it is synchronized? Therefore, if budgets are estimates and yardsticks for performance, you are supposed to give your estimates to someone to assess how good you are in budgeting in terms of expenditure. Less than a month when The Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bill No.7 of 2018) was approved, you are bringing three amendments because donors have approved grants. This means there is a performance issue that needs to be addressed. With those few remarks, I beg to second. ( Question proposed)"
}