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{
    "id": 925872,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/925872/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 521,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ochillo-Ayacko",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 347,
        "legal_name": "Ochilo George Mbogo Ayacko",
        "slug": "ochilo-ayacko"
    },
    "content": "that our County Public Accounts and Investment Committee did not get sufficient time to look at public accounts and audits in relation to those areas. The officers, in violation did not come face to face to explain what they were doing before the Senate. This is something that has been happening because we have not given capacity and resources to our County Public Accounts and Investment Committee. It has allowed the accounting officials in counties the pleasure of misusing public money knowing that they will not be made to account for the same amount of money before the County Public Accounts and Investment Committee. That has led to the proposition that informed the suggestion that there is need to amend our Standing Orders to expand the Membership of this important Committee. It would have sub committees which would address some of those thematic areas of audit and oversight. That way, we will be in tandem and comprehensive in terms of holding institutions to account for the public funds that we give them. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we know well that there is wastage. In order for this wastage to be stopped, the people responsible must visit this House and seriously be given an opportunity to be heard on why this wastage has been going on year in, year out. I have looked at the audit queries that arise in my county. Every year, the Committees of that assembly leave the assembly claiming to go somewhere to write reports. Although they leave the assembly to go to other places to write reports, when the Auditor General invites them to present records that they were involved in such activities, those records are not available. When they avail some skeleton records, those records indicate that not everybody attended, yet money was taken out in cash to give presumably the ghost attendees. If we, as a House, are relying on the county assemblies to carry out some primary oversight on the county governments, but they are carrying out their business as if they are criminal enterprises, we would be failing in our responsibility. That is if we do not give time and attention to some of the practices that are prevalent in the county assemblies, so that members can come before the distinguished Committee chaired by my good friend, Sen. M. Kajwang,’ and explain why they are involved in graft. They should explain why they allow graft, yet they are the one who should be leading by example and also ensuring that they follow the law."
}