Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 832494,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/832494/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 895,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nairobi CWR, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Esther Passaris",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 12475,
        "legal_name": "Esther Passaris",
        "slug": "esther-passaris"
    },
    "content": "I believe many Members are struggling because of delayed funds and the fact that the money is not sufficient to achieve what they want to like funding schools. Here in Nairobi, we have constituencies like Dagoretti North, which do not have a single primary school. Also, Embakasi South is struggling with a shortage of secondary schools. For us to build schools, we need more money. Therefore, we should be our own enemies for having this fund yet in certain constituencies, we do not have enough schools. We also saw some classes built with sub-standard materials thus were a danger to the students. The Public Works Department is mandated to inspect structures that are being built in schools and police stations. At the end of the day, we have to make an about-turn when it comes to corruption. I felt the President when he said, “my hands are tied”. When we spend money to build classrooms, when cutting the ribbon and sending a picture of it, we should ensure that the school is safe and can withstand tremors, heavy rainfall and the wear and tear over the years. When we build a shoddy school, swimming pool or police station, then, we are denying our children the vision this country has. The Special Funds Accounts Committee has done a tremendous job. Even though I am Member, I am not complimenting myself. Through the wisdom of our Chair, we scrutinised the accounts of three years. If we only scrutinised one year, by the time we get to the current year, we will have lost a lot of time. There is also the statute of limitation. The EACC is still scrutinising the 2013/2014 audit reports and five years have already lapsed. We took to them many questionable deals and expenditure. If they do not move quickly, then, the five-year lapse will become seven years. It will be very difficult for them to prosecute some of the cases because the statute of limitation will be applied to them. For us to safeguard our resources through oversight, we have fulfilled our function. My appeal is that we should get rid of the fund managers with questionable audit queries. We should ensure that the EACC is well funded so that we can arrest the corruption that is going on in the various funds. As a Member of this Committee, I pledge to ensure that we will continue auditing not just the NG-CDF, but all the other funds, to the best of our capability. We need to uphold this country in terms of integrity and the fight against corruption. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker."
}