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{
    "id": 800767,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/800767/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 327,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Nyamunga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 738,
        "legal_name": "Rose Nyamunga Ogendo",
        "slug": "rose-nyamunga-ogendo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker for giving me the opportunity. Being a Member of the Senate Committee on Finance and Budget, we had several meetings to discuss the Bill. We had reservations and at the same time we made recommendations to make sure that whatever commitment we are giving to this House is something that has been thought through properly. First of all, I want Kenyans to realize that when we are getting grants from other governments, it is such a big sacrifice that they make. This is because a grant is not a loan that is repaid at any interest. It is something that is given for a certain purpose for the development of certain countries. If some countries can sacrifice to give Kenya grants to the tune of Kshs3.7 billion, we should take some of these gestures seriously to make sure that the monies that we get as grants are used properly to the benefit and for the intended purpose. However, from what we know and the discussions that have been going on in this House this afternoon, it is clear that most Members are skeptical about the grants, how they are being used and their accountability. As a nation, we should continue to look at ourselves and reflect on how we have been rated or looked at by other development partners who keep giving us money in trying to support us to make sure that we move forward in terms of development. Madam Temporary Speaker, looking at the issue of audited reports; they are supposed to give the management or nation guidance. It is an awakening to any government or nation on how they use or utilize their resources. Therefore, we cannot continue to have late audited reports. I am not sure if this is deliberate or the National Assembly is just not doing its work. I am really divided because I do not know the truth. However, I strongly believe that this is done deliberately so that the county governments are denied what they deserve. We raised the issue of using the audited reports of 2013/2014 Financial Year to make allocations in 2018, that is way below. We should have been talking of the audited reports of at least 2015/2016 Financial Year. However, if we are still stuck in the 2013/2014 Financial Year, it means that we are not giving the governments a benchmark of how they can evaluate the performance of the national Government and that of the county governments. The idea of auditing is to verify and certify; to make sure that the reports can be used to help the government to improve on the management of resources. Therefore, if they are late, then it means that we are not assisting the national Government to make the right decisions. The management or the Presidency cannot do that. The National Treasury, the Ministry of Finance or any other Ministry cannot make prudent decisions when it comes to the lateness in auditing. 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."
}