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{
    "id": 965707,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/965707/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 213,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Makali Mulu",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1955,
        "legal_name": "Benson Makali Mulu",
        "slug": "benson-makali-mulu"
    },
    "content": "Looking at the Supplementary Budget this time, there are a number of programmes where the law has not been adhered to. The law is very clear that when you are adjusting the programme or even the total budget, you should not go beyond 10 per cent. But a number of programmes have gone beyond 10 per cent adjustment. We cannot be a House which makes laws and, at the same time, assist the National Treasury to break the law. We need to be firm in our position to say that in terms of programmes, budgetary adjustment should not go beyond 10 per cent. Another important issue is that of new projects and implementation. We are about six months to the end of the financial year. From my experience, nothing much happens in terms of implementation in the last two months of the financial year. The question I am asking myself, even as I discuss this Supplementary Budget, is why we are bringing in too many new projects. The question is: Do we even have the time to implement the projects? Even as we add these figures and increase the Budget, we are likely to have another Supplementary Budget where the figures will be revised downwards. That is not good. I think the Executive must take time, do a proper analysis of the projects and consider implementation timeframes so that whatever projects are in this Budget are those that can be implemented within the time allowed. The third point relates to the budgets of the Judiciary and Parliament. The Government has three arms – the Executive, Parliament and the Judiciary. It is very clear that when it comes to Budget submission, the Judiciary and Parliament submit their budgets directly to the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC). Why do they do that? It is because the Executive is not supposed to be making the budgets for the Judiciary and Parliament. It is very bad when we see the budgets for the Judiciary and Parliament being adjusted by the National Treasury without consultation with the respective arms of the Government. It is important for us, as a House, to pass this information to the National Treasury that, when it comes to the budgets of the Judiciary and Parliament, there is need for proper consultation before any adjustments are made. We all appreciate that there is need for austerity measures but that does not mean people just change the figures without consultation. It is because we must protect the independence of the institutions. The other important point is on the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF). We realised there was an attempt to reduce the NG-CDF’s allocations. What makes it worse is the fact that the law is very clear that 2.5 per cent of national Government’s allocation goes to the NG-CDF. When you change it to below the law which is 2.5 per cent, I think we are sending the wrong signals. I want to assure Hon. Members that this is not the time to start interfering with the NG-CDF. Kenyans believe in the NG-CDF and it is important that its allocations are allowed to be as approved by this House. That is because this is the only money which reaches all parts of this country. So, this is an area we will be urging the House to support the BAC on, so that the figures remain as they were approved in the month of June. That is going to be very important. The other important point is on Universal Health Care (UHC). I will be saying very little on this because of time. When we look at the BBI report, Kenyans have said devolution is very good for them. They have only said that the only thing they want to be done to devolution is to improve the way things are being done in implementation. However, every Kenyan is happy with devolution. If you look at the UHC programme, you will find that there are some elements or components of the programme which should be implemented at the county level so that we promote devolution. When we see most of this money remaining at the headquarters, it is like we are undermining devolution. So, even as we pass this Supplementary Budget, it is important that we isolate programmes which can be implemented at the county level so that the money can go The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}