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{
    "id": 988511,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/988511/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 89,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Linturi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 69,
        "legal_name": "Franklin Mithika Linturi",
        "slug": "franklin-linturi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. I join my friends in congratulating Sen. Khaniri for this Statement. However, I want to emphasize one or two issues raised by my colleagues. I am lucky to be sitting in the ad hoc Committee on COVID-19. The other day we had presentations by the Governor of Kakamega, the Chairman of the Council of Governors (CoG), Hon. Oparanya and a member of the Committee that was formed to oversee the resources coming through the COVID-19 kitty. He shocked us when he told us that since Kenya Medical Supplies Association (KEMSA) by way of legislation makes it impossible, or there is hindrance in terms of acquisition of equipment or the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that are required, they had an agreement with the President that they would buy those items directly from the manufacturers. I am raising this matter because as you know, for any Act of Parliament to be amended, they must involve Parliament. They did not bring it because, to emphasize the possibility of pilferage, looting of public funds and the possibility of turning people into overnight billionaires by taking advantage of the situation that we find ourselves in and appreciating the matter that has just been raised by Sen. Wetangula that we do not have an Auditor-General. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you realize that the Auditor-General plays a very critical role in oversight. The Committee on Public Accounts and Investments, whether in the Senate or the National Assembly, gives material that is authentic and which can be relied on by the meetings of Parliament whenever exercising that oversight role. In the absence of these reports coming from the Auditor-General because of his absence, it becomes difficult. I want to support what Sen. Orengo has said that we must get into a candid discussion on this matter. In my view, it is like Parliament in the manner that it is now, becomes very difficult to oversight, because of the attempts by the Executive to muzzle it and reduce money that goes to counties. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we should wake up, interrogate and reflect on what we are supposed to do as Senators because we are the people that represent the issue of the majority and the people that vote for us. The National Assembly is in charge of the public purse. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}