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{
    "id": 925870,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/925870/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 519,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ochillo-Ayacko",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 347,
        "legal_name": "Ochilo George Mbogo Ayacko",
        "slug": "ochilo-ayacko"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, having said that, I am happy that through our Committee, we have captured some of these things for the years 2013 to 2016. However, this report indicates certain limitations that need to be addressed. One of the limitations that I have captured in this report is that, it has come so late in the day. Financial Year 2013/2014 passed and nothing happened. The same applies for financial years 2015/2016, 2016/2017. We are now discussing violations that were done in 2018. I do not fault the Committee that has done this good work. However, we must admit that the scope and intensity of coverage has suffered certain limitations. May be, it is because of factors that are not contained in this report. My understanding and suspicion is that County Public Accounts and Investment Committee has been overwhelmed. We have 47 counties and there is a limitation in terms of its membership and personnel who are supposed to assist the Committee. If the Committee had an enlarged membership and more support, they would have covered the period that the Auditor-General audited public accounts that were given to counties in a timely version. Perhaps in 2019, we would be discussing a report that is current. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if you set aside the issue for whether the report is current or not, you will notice that from the report, the audited accounts of all county assemblies were not attended. I do not fault the Committee for not doing so. In my previous life, I have served in other Committees. Therefore, I know the constraint that Members of the Committee have. If you look at the reports of the Auditor-General, you will find that a lot of public money is lost when county assemblies meet without purpose, when they pay themselves allowances without following procedures or when they engage in activities that are contrary to the law. So, it would be important for this House to empower the County Public Accounts and Investment Committee to oversight county assemblies as well because those are areas of enormous expenditure. The County Assembly of Migori where I come from, spent public money that amounts to Kshs750 million annually. That is not pocket change. Homa Bay County spends a similar amount of money and other counties also spend so much money. Therefore, it is important for our oversight Committee to also have opportunity, time and resources dedicated to looking at the accounts of our assemblies. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, our counties also have investments and other bodies that use public funds. If you look at this report for the period under review, you will find"
}