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{
    "id": 842538,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/842538/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 156,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The Senate does oversight. A lot has been done regarding the report of Nakuru County that has been laid here. This is revenue that is collected. However, the report cannot really open up on the Floor of this House to state if the CPAIC Committee –which was dealing with these cross checks – went ahead and did physical checks in the counties to confirm whether what was given to them by the auditor who did this report was correct.It is unfortunate that, at the moment, the Senate does not have the capacity to go to the counties to cross check and to physically observe what has been cited in this report. It is high time that the Senate is capacitated to go down to the counties; not only to Nakuru County, but also to other counties whose reports we will examine. Madam Temporary Speaker, it is not enough for the governors to be summoned to the Senate to be asked a few questions here and there and to discuss the auditor’s report. It is unfortunate that a lot of money is collected in the counties in billions; and much more is remitted by the national Government to the counties. Yes, this is devolution and we want devolution to work; but are we sure that the money that is remitted to the counties is being used in the right way? Counties have been given all the powers to utilise their monies according to their budgets. They are even given supplementary budgets. The money is delayed sometimes, and if there is a delay, they work on the budgets and utilize the money that was supposed to be used in other areas of interest. Where is the priority? How do they prioritise the monies that they are using on the projects? In addition, there are various donors that give money to the counties. Grants are being given to counties. Procurement is taking place. How sure are we that if this report is given to the Senate, the report is as accurate as when the Committee itself could have gone to the ground to work on it? It is high time that the capacity of the Senate should be built and empowered to go to the counties to cross check and do audit of all accounts so that when the reports come here, it is real time and it will assist devolution to work. Madam Temporary Speaker, We agree that when funds are delayed, it affects projects in the counties. However, when the counties eventually receive this money, do they use it in the right way? Are the counties up to the task such that when the money is delayed, it is used in the right way when it is eventually released? The CPAIC of the Senate needs to go beyond just summoning governors and asking them questions; it needs to certify that what they are answering is the right thing. We want to get exact budgets, expenditures and estimates to confirm that this money, which was meant for these county governments,is working for devolution. Madam Temporary Speaker, it is a challenge to examine the reports of 2013/2014 when the county leadership has changed. I congratulate the Committee that is looking at this report because it is hard to look at the reports, especially where revenue and expenditure is involved. It is difficult to look at a budget where leadership has already changed because there are new MCAs and governors in those offices. How sure are you that what you are given, what you are certifying or putting on the table was utilised in the 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."
}