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{
    "id": 842453,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/842453/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 71,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to contribute to this Motion on the Cash Disbursement Schedule for the Fiscal Year 2018/2019. This Motion would not have come at a better time than now, when we, in the country, are alive to the fact that Kenyans are concerned about the collection of taxes, specifically on the imposition of the eight per cent Value Added Tax (VAT). This is a conversation that all Kenyans should be having at the moment. When we sit in this House and talk about the Division of Revenue Bill which then sets out the amount of money that each county should be able to get, it is important for us to have a Schedule that can be followed effectively to ensure that counties receive their monies on time. I commend the Committee on Finance and Budget for having done a very good job in pointing out where there were typographical and mathematical errors. For us to develop as a country, the county governments must receive their money when they are supposed to receive it. Going through the Report which was adopted by five Members of the Committee, I am concerned that certain aspects were not there and this has to do with the release of the Kshs9.1 billion which is supposed to pay for the medical equipment. It is imperative for the National Treasury to clarify when these funds will be released to the counties for us not to have to come up with an amendment. The Constitution is very clear that when funds are being released to the county governments, it should be done without any unnecessary delay. Although I support this Schedule, for I want the people of Narok County to receive their money on time, this House approves this Schedule every year, but the question is: Do counties receive their money when they are supposed to receive it? If they did, we would not be having a problem of unpaid bills. I know that the other Senators who spoke about this Motion yesterday including Sen. Omogeni and Sen. Kibiru raised questions regarding the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMIS). Everyone blames the IFMIS for the delay in the disbursement of money. I see it differently. I think that we must come out and be honest by telling Kenyans that the problem is that we have one payment system where the National Treasury controls when the money will be released. It is embarrassing to find that County Executive Committee Members (CEC’s) in charge of finance spend most of their time in Nairobi begging the National Treasury to release the money that they are supposed to receive. I think that we have to ask ourselves a question as Kenyans: Are all these expenses and development projects, including the Big Four Agenda, really necessary at this point? They are very good on paper but in reality, are people getting money? Yesterday, we sat here and discussed the issue of Pumwani Hospital. We gave our views on what should have happened. When I stood it was rather unfortunate that I had only two minutes. 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."
}