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{
    "id": 968848,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/968848/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 394,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suba North, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Ms. Odhiambo-Mabona",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 376,
        "legal_name": "Millie Grace Akoth Odhiambo Mabona",
        "slug": "millie-odhiambo-mabona"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity. First of all, let me thank the Parliamentary Service Committee (PSC) for an excellent job done. I had actually put my card earlier and I was just about to leave. Now that you have given me the opportunity, let me just say one or two things about it. I want to agree with the Committee on their findings, especially on the issue of scholarships that they raised yesterday. We have many young and needy students who do not get opportunities because people misuse public funds. I want to agree with the Committee in the recommendations they gave about ensuring that funds are utilised well and Parliament has a say in overseeing and ensuring proper expenditure especially for the poor and vulnerable. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, there were also other issues that I had indicated earlier. However, because I was kind of ambushed, I may not put them all in my thought. One of the things that I have observed, and I do not know how PAC will help us, is in relation to the CDF Funds. We must find a way of ensuring that our accounting officers are held personally liable where there is misuse of public funds. Yesterday, I realised that the Chairman of the Committee was saying that they got information that should have gone to the Auditor-General. The reason is that some of the officers know they are not going to be held accountable. Even in cases which are very clear and direct, they do not have any documentation. They think it is a joke. Some accounting officers have also found that as an avenue for corruption and misuse of public funds. It becomes very difficult especially when you are talking about CDF funds and you find that the person that is being asked to take political responsibility are Members of Parliament. I know there are instances when issues have come even before this House that touch on our own constituencies when the only thing that is required is documentation. Somebody is careless enough because they are not being held to account. Otherwise, I want to thank the Committee for the good work they have done. Right now, if they give the next report, we may be talking about very current accounts. That actually has a direct impact on devolution. I know that the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) is hoping that we could move the funds to at least 35 per cent. However, before we reach that 35 percentage that is envisaged by the CDF, we know the last audited accounts have an impact on what goes to our counties. It, therefore, makes sense even for purposes of planning for the national Government, you have accounts that relate or approximate to economic realities. If you are talking about audited accounts which are ten or so many years old, they actually do not show our realities. We know the challenges that we are facing globally and even nationally. Therefore, if you are talking about audited accounts which are so proximate to that financial year, then, it actually makes more financial or economic sense. I thank the Chair and I encourage him to pull up his socks. When I say you pull up your socks, it does not mean you are doing badly, but you are doing very well except as I said yesterday, committees chaired by women are still doing much better. My good friend and brother, Hon. Wandayi, is also doing very well. I can see they want to challenge me. You are doing well, but the ones led by women are still doing better."
}