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{
    "id": 941659,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/941659/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 575,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Orengo",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Minority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 129,
        "legal_name": "Aggrey James Orengo",
        "slug": "james-orengo"
    },
    "content": "However, we need a law in place that measures up to what the Constitution desires. This is because Article 211(1) of the Constitution says: “Parliament may, by legislation- (a) Prescribe the terms on which the national government may borrow; (b) Impose reporting requirements” This is not just the limit, but the terms on which the national Government may borrow and impose reporting requirements. We do not have that law in place. My learned friend, Sen. Faki, is going to probably address Sub-Article (2) which is equally important. There has never been a request by the Senate or the National Assembly on issues of borrowing. Now, if you look at the Public Finance Management Act, that Act needs to be amended because on the question of management of the public debt, it has been left entirely to the Cabinet Secretary and the National Debt Office. That needs to be changed so that Parliament has a direct role not to act as a mortician, but on a regular and persistent basis to control and regulate how debt is managed by the national office. I have looked at that law and it is my hope that probably in ensuring that we can manage debt, we should effectively come up with amendments to the Public Finance Management Act and the regulations which have been made thereunder. If we go back to what has happened in the last seven or 15 years on this issue of debt, some people are standing here and speaking as if they are with the people while others are not. These commitments were made when some people were just watching; when it was the right moment. The early warning signals were there. They did not even take that cue to come out with the appropriate legislation. However, now that the thing is being brought, is when they say “no, no, Wanjiku”. ‘Wanjiku’ required leaders with some element of vision. You do not wait until the problem is at your door step then you think of solutions. Instead of running to save a sinking boat, you wait for it to sink and then say: “I swam a hundred miles to get the bodies of those who were there.” You then pat yourself on the back that you are a hero. No; you are not a hero! You should have jumped into the lake when those people were still alive."
}