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{
    "id": 900246,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/900246/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 158,
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    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I still want to register my frustration that we are now subjecting this important Bill to discussion between the two Houses. I want to talk to the two amendments the Senate has proposed. The issue of the medical equipment is something we pronounced ourselves as a National Assembly last financial year. I remember this House saying categorically that we had our doubts with this contract between the Government and the providers of this equipment. In fact, if you look at our reports we felt this matter needed thorough auditing. How I would have been happy if the Senate had looked into this matter in detail and come up with a clear report on it and even a way forward. It is not just a question of removing the budget. Removing the budget may be good but what next? This is because when you remove the budget and that equipment is still at the counties, are we not going to breach contractual obligations? That is a question that this country must ask. There is a possibility that the people who had a contract between themselves and the Government may easily go to court and get a lot of payment from the Government. So, even as we consider that this is fraud… I agree with the Senate that this looks like a fraudulent arrangement. We have said as much, but I want to ask the Senate; before we make a decision to take away these funds from this budget line, we need a clear report that is detailing the kind of arrangement we are in with these contractors and how much we have lost. Once we deny the Government money to pay for the leasing of this equipment, how then do we proceed? Do we return the equipment or what do we do? That is something that the Senate needs to do. It is not just a populist step to take away the budget from that budget line. That, to me, is desirable but what next? What do we do after removing the money from that budget line? On the issue of money, I think the Senate has a point in terms of how much should go to counties. As the budget and revenue increases, whether it is estimates or actual revenue, we need to start thinking of also giving counties more of this money. However, the problem we have 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."
}