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{
    "id": 904191,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/904191/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 244,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Ali",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. First and foremost, I am Member of the Committee as well. We have many problems with the institutions which are supposed to assist the Senate in performing its functions. As earlier said, the Controller of Budget is supposed to be helping these Committees to perform their duties but unfortunately, nothing comes out of it. When you talk to the officers at the National Treasury, all these problems are there. Governors do what they do best; they steal as many Kenyans do nowadays. Unfortunately, people are brought to court to face corruption charges, but we do not see people going to jail. When that happens, nobody really bothers. It has become routine to bring people to court or before the EACC but because we have become very good at the art of stealing, nobody is taken to jail. We know what happened in the case of Samburu County Government. We were told there were billions involved but at the last minute, we were told it was just a few millions. The governor is free. Now, we are being told the Governor of Kiambu County, Gov. Waititu, was arrested today. We were told stories of his daughter having millions of shillings. The same thing happened with Migori County. Nothing is happening in this country. Sometimes you wonder, is this a circus we are playing or are we serious about dealing with corruption? Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, according to the table here, the total pending bill for 2016/2017 was Kshs25.8 billion. Now, one year down the road, it is Kshs108 billion. How did that happen? What does that mean? From Kshs36 billion to Kshs108 billion is more than threefold within one year and we allow this to continue. On performance of local revenue collection, you can see the target is Kshs850 million but they collected Kshs450 million which is 50 per cent less. When some counties were municipal councils or town councils, they used to collect more money than they do now. Why should that be the case? These counties are getting billions of shillings per year which they did not have before. They are giving contracts to contractors who they are supposed to be collecting money from. They are supposed to be collecting money from their own sources which they had before; that is roads, rates and licenses. However, they cannot collect what they used to collect before. They do not even collect 20 per cent of what they used to collect. What does that mean? Is it just corruption? The more money we take to the counties the more corruption there is. You hear of people becoming billionaires overnight but you do not know where this money came from. Nothing can be done to them. When a Senator talks they are told this is just political rivalry. That is not the issue. Whether you keep quiet or talk, it makes no difference to these county officials. You see young boys and girls building massionetes everywhere which we cannot afford. Some of us have been in politics for over 20 years but we do not have that sort of money or houses worth what they have. They have apartments and houses everywhere in Nairobi City County and you get shocked and wonder where they got this money from. 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."
}