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{
    "id": 874358,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/874358/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 321,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Orengo",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Minority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 129,
        "legal_name": "Aggrey James Orengo",
        "slug": "james-orengo"
    },
    "content": "supporting the amendment and looking to the future, this Committee must be reconstituted in some shape and form to follow up. This is because the report came out in November last year and after making these recommendations, by this time, there should have been some signs that the Executive or the people responsible are taking some actions with regard to this report. The amendments are borne out by the report without going to the second volume, which the Senator for Makueni has referred to. However, if this report came at a time when Ministers were sitting in Parliament, we would have, without a doubt, had some resignations. This report is far damning than the report on similar issues that former Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale brought to Parliament. This report is more damning than the accusation which was made against Minister Kimunya in a Motion which was brought in the National Assembly in the previous Parliament. It is even more damning than the single most exhaustive report that has come to Parliament by way of a commission of inquiry which was established in 1965, and which led to resignation or the firing of several Cabinet Ministers. It also damning because despite the issues that it raised, the CS for the National Treasury and Planning never appeared before the Committee. He, instead, sent a Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS). This is a matter which if the CS knew dealt with his responsibility under the Constitution, he would have elected to come in person. Madam Temporary Speaker, if you looked at the minutes of this Report and at the questions; you will see that this Committee worked in a very methodical way. They were preparing questions in advance for the people who were invited to come before it. Some of these questions could not be answered by anybody else except the CSs. For example, there is a question that was directed to one of the CSs, which remained unanswered; and it is captured in the Report. In answer to the question which was put to him by the Committee with regard to clarity of the gazettement giving an open quantum by request of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, the CS said the Government reached the decision to have subsidized maize due to the high cost of maize in the country caused by the shortage of maize. The CS was saying that the cost of maize in the country was higher because there was a shortage. However, they elected to pay the local farmers about Kshs2,300 per bag, despite the shortage, but imported maize from Mexico for Kshs4,000. There is no explanation at all to that inquiry, which was made with justification by the Committee. He did not answer satisfactory the question of ordering 4 million bags from Mexico, which has been referred to, as opposed to 1.5 million bags. There is even the question which makes this Report look like it is from a movie. The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have logistical problems moving men and machines to the border to fight Al Shabaab and to quell conflict in Somalia. However, the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and the Ministry were able to get a Probox vehicle, whose details are given in this Report, which was able to carry 10,000 kilogrammes of maize through Malaba on 17th October for delivery to Nairobi. Imagine a Probox saloon! I think KDF should get this Probox to move troops, supplies and equipment to our borders. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}