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{
    "id": 800894,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/800894/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 106,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ng’ongo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": "Sometimes I ask myself whether the commissions that we created are in sync with the thinking of Kenyans. Just the other day, I noticed that one of the commissions which we formed to help cut public expenditure - the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) - has been trying to raid Parliament and ensure that the salaries of Members of Parliament are contained. The same Commission went ahead to write a letter to counties asking them to allocate Kshs150 million for construction of the Speaker’s residence. Their argument was that it is more expensive to pay rent for houses. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sorry, I did not even realise that the Speaker’s gender has changed. Hon. Nyikal is now applying medicine to it. The SRC is trying to give the excuse that it is more expensive to pay rent for county speakers than to provide residence to the tune of Kshs150 million. Even if you give the Speaker of Homa Bay County Assembly Kshs100,000 per month for rent, you cannot rent any house in Homa Bay County for Kshs100,000. It will take you 125 years to exhaust the Kshs150 million. Why would anyone in his or her right senses imagine that a speaker of a county assembly requires a residence of Kshs150 million, unless we do not know the value of Kshs150 million. That is a clear demonstration that some of those commissions are just playing public relations with the people of Kenya. The President has asked those who are heading finance and procurement departments in various ministries, departments and State corporations to step aside so that they are vetted. I only accept this initiative because Kenyans had reached a point where we were now desperate. We are desperate and will appreciate any effort that is made towards this. I also want to ask the Government to be cautious so that we do not scandalise and pass judgement on some professions. I am an accountant by profession. I would hate to see a situation where children of Kenya think twice before studying accounts because when you become an accountant, you are automatically branded a thief. I do not think accountants are thieves. Kenyans, in one way or the other, are thieves. A lot of theft is promoted by those who work in finance and procurement. I The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}