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{
    "id": 921826,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/921826/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 282,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13162,
        "legal_name": "Moses Otieno Kajwang'",
        "slug": "moses-otieno-kajwang"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, during the period under review, the Committee undertook one county visit. We visited Samburu County to assess the measures taken to address non conformances raised by the OAG. The Committee held meetings with the Public Accounts Committee of Samburu as well as the Governor and the Executive. The Committee visited several county projects, including two of the level four hospitals where it was established that the county was not getting value for money from its investments in the Managed Equipment Scheme. I hope that this House will follow through on its past recommendations on scrutiny of the managed equipment scheme. A visit of other county funded projects across the county also exposed delays in project execution, for example, solar powered boreholes that were not delivering benefits to residents due to delays in laying pipes, and a newly built level four hospital in Archers Post Town that was complete, but unutilised. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is noteworthy that two days after the visit to Samburu, the EACC moved swiftly to take legal action against top county officials suspected of engaging in irregularities in utilization of county funds. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, between 6th and 10th May 2019, the Committee undertook a study tour to the United Kingdom House of Commons. The tour, coordinated with the help of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, sought to establish linkages with the PAC at the House Commons so as to share best practices in parliamentary oversight. The Committee held fruitful discussions with the Chair of the UK, House of Commons Public Accounts Committee Hon. Meg Hillier, as well as the top leadership of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, the Parliamentary Scrutiny Unit, the Public Accounts Commission, the National Audit Office and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The Report of the visit will be tabled in the House and is expected to stimulate a discussion on the legislative and administrative measures necessary to strengthen the role of Senate in oversight. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Committee notes that in the past five financial years, the OAG has tabled more than 200 reports for county executives, 140 reports for county assemblies and hundreds of reports for county funds and corporations. Allow me, to congratulate the outgoing Auditor-General for ensuring that his office reports to Parliament within the timelines specified in Article 229 of the Constitution. In order for Senate to meet the requirements of Article 229 (8) of the Constitution, the Committee resolved that- (1) County responses for the financial years 2013 – 2017 shall be in the way of written responses accompanied by sworn affidavits by Governors as Chief Executive Officers. So far, I would like to report that all the 47 counties have since submitted their written responses to the Senate. (2) The Committee shall interrogate Governors on their responses for the latest Financial Year 2017/2018 and any matters arising from previous years. So far, the Committee has interrogated 15 governors out of the 18 that were scheduled, and has issued notices of appearances for the remaining counties. 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."
}