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{
    "id": 989175,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/989175/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 291,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mwea, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Josphat Kabinga",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13441,
        "legal_name": "Josphat Kabinga Wachira",
        "slug": "josphat-kabinga-wachira-2"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I stand to support this Bill. As I do so, I want to caution that these are extraordinary times when we, as Parliament, need to act in a more serious manner. This is the time we are likely to invite illegalities in the execution of the Budget in this country. I know we are in a rush to ensure we fund the necessary areas to fight Covid-19. But, as we do so, we need to act more seriously, especially in the area of oversight, as alluded to by the Leader of the Minority Party. We are just about to discuss our third budget and, in every budget discussion, we talk about oversight. We have not seen any action being taken. This means something is lacking. It is high time the Liaison Committee held a special sitting to look into the challenges the various departmental committees could be facing in their execution of oversight. In this Supplementary Budget, we have provided sufficient funds to fight Covid-19 in the short-term. It is high time we looked at some of the vulnerable areas, ensure they receive serious interest and are fully catered for. It is in the interest of this country to ensure people like boda boda operators are well taken care of. In the money we have provided, I am persuaded that this country can afford to provide, at least, 10 masks for every boda boda operator in this country to ensure that they are well protected because it is in our own interest. As I was doing my normal checks in my constituency, I realized that boda boda operators are suffering. Some of them are using handkerchiefs as masks, just to ensure that they are not caught by the police. Some of them are going a whole day without a single cent. Yet, we expect them to buy masks. We have provided money and it is high time we ensured the money is used to provide masks. Masks cost very little and yet, this is a group that can cause real problems in this country. As I conclude, this is the time we need to ensure that the Executive, in its execution of the budget, does not violate any law - especially the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, Section (44)(1), where they overspend and come to Parliament in the name of this particular section. In the same way, they are using the Constitution in Article 223 where they spend money outside the budget because it is provided for. It is important for us to ensure that money which goes to pay outstanding bills is checked and we do not just pay. We do not want Coronavirus entrepreneurs to spring up out of this Supplementary Budget we are providing. I strongly feel that oversight is an area which this Parliament has diluted to an extent that we have sold out our respect. As I have said, we should let the Liaison Committee sit down and come up with tangible suggestions on how the various departmental committees can go back to their roots and execute the mandate of oversight in this country. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I support."
}