{"count":1608389,"next":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=152784","previous":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=152782","results":[{"id":1546022,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1546022/?format=json","text_counter":125,"type":"heading","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"ADOPTION OF REPORTS ON CONSIDERATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF VARIOUS COUNTY ASSEMBLIES FOR FY2023/2024"},{"id":1546023,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1546023/?format=json","text_counter":126,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Kathuri","speaker_title":"The Deputy Speaker","speaker":{"id":13590,"legal_name":"Murungi Kathuri","slug":"murungi-kathuri"},"content":" Chairperson, of the Senate Standing Committee on County Public Accounts (CPAC), in the same spirit, you will save some time as you move. The seconder should also take less time."},{"id":1546024,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1546024/?format=json","text_counter":127,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. M. Kajwang’","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":13162,"legal_name":"Moses Otieno Kajwang'","slug":"moses-otieno-kajwang"},"content":"Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the Motion that, the Senate adopts the reports of the Select Committee on County Public Accounts, on the The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."},{"id":1546025,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1546025/?format=json","text_counter":128,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. M. Kajwang’","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":13162,"legal_name":"Moses Otieno Kajwang'","slug":"moses-otieno-kajwang"},"content":"consideration of the reports of the Auditor-General on the financial statements, for Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, Taita-Taveta, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Meru, Tharaka-Nithi, Embu, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Nandi, Baringo, Laikipia, Nakuru, Narok, Kajiado, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira and Nairobi City County Assemblies, for the Financial Year 2023/2024, laid on the Table of the Senate on Thursday, 27th March, 2025, and approves the recommendations of the Committee on the financial statements of the respective county assemblies for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to be brief in moving this Motion. In the financial year under review, 47 county assemblies were audited. A total sum of 45 of them had a qualified opinion, and two had adverse opinions. Embarrassingly, the two county assemblies that had adverse opinions were Homa Bay County Assembly and Migori County Assembly. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we did not ask the county assemblies to appear before the Committee, but we gave them an opportunity to submit their written responses. Their responses were verified by the Office of the Auditor-General. My committee sat down and reviewed the supporting annexures and adopted the Report that has been laid before the House. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you will notice that the Fiduciary Risks Report excludes the county assemblies. One of the key issues that emerged from the conversations or audit reports from county assemblies was asset management. Most county assemblies have not acquired ownership of the properties and premises where they sit. However, one county assembly has been successful in that, not in this financial year but in the past, the Narok County Assembly, which has gotten the title to the Assembly premises. The Auditor-General has flagged this matter over the years. Some county assemblies are still paying salaries outside the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Database (IPPD) system. This is symptomatic of fraud because when you pay outside the system, you are basically paying ghosts. Of importance to the Finance and Budget Committee is that a number of county assemblies are receiving more than 7 per cent of a county's revenue. Under the Public Finance Management (County Government Regulations), we had set a threshold of 7 per cent. However, over the years, through the various instruments that the Senate passes, the Division of Revenue, and additional allocations, we have revised the ceilings to an effect where the average disbursement to county assemblies today is about 12 per cent, way above the 7 per cent. The Senate, especially the Finance and Budget Committee, needs to look at this. If the 7 per cent in regulation is not sufficient, then let us amend the regulation. We have seen weak governance in a number of county assemblies and non-functional county assembly service boards. We need to tighten the law because what some county assemblies are doing to control the finances is that they are impeaching the speaker. After impeaching the The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."},{"id":1546026,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1546026/?format=json","text_counter":129,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. M. Kajwang’","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":13162,"legal_name":"Moses Otieno Kajwang'","slug":"moses-otieno-kajwang"},"content":"speaker, they appoint a temporary speaker who will come from Members. Then, the temporary speaker takes over as the chair of the County Assembly Service Board, notwithstanding the fact that every County Assembly Service Board has a vice chairperson, who ought to take over in the absence of a substantive speaker. This is a matter that really is about good governance, but perhaps it needs to be captured in law to avoid abuse. One matter that cuts across all county assemblies is their continued contribution to the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) and the Society of Clerks at The Table (SOCATT(K). We have no objection to the assemblies deciding which professional bodies or societies they should subscribe to, but these are public funds. If they are going to be transmitted to any other entity, that entity should be legal and auditable. This is a problem we have had with CAF. We are not saying that CAF is illegal. CAF is a proper association. The only problem is a continued remittance of money to CAF. When you quantify it, Kshs5 million per county assembly by 47 counties is a lot of money. Fortunately, this House has already considered the necessary legislation to rectify this. Finally, we have seen cases of pending bills in the county assemblies, which are contained in the detailed report, as well as matters of outstanding imprest held by Members of the County Assemblies. We, therefore, request the House--- None of the assemblies appeared before the Committee. They submitted written responses. The Committee cannot vouch for the authenticity of the records submitted. We request the House to allow the Committee to summon the entities that had adverse opinions and to invite the accounting officers of the other entities to ensure that the issues raised by the Auditor-General are closed and to allow the Committee to liaise with other relevant stakeholders to ensure that illegalities and irregularities identified are addressed lawfully, and perhaps even to direct a special audit of the entities with adverse opinions. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. I will ask a Member of my Committee who has not spoken, maybe Sen. Cherarkey, to quickly second."},{"id":1546027,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1546027/?format=json","text_counter":130,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Cherarkey","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":13217,"legal_name":"Cherarkey K Samson","slug":"cherarkey-k-samson"},"content":"Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I thank the Chairperson. The report on the county assemblies is a straightforward matter. County assemblies concentrate more on recurrent expenditure than development expenditure. As the Chairperson said, we, as a committee, need these entities to appear before us to get the second bite to the cherry as these entities explain their expenditure. The Nandi County Assembly Chambers have yet to be completed. So, you will find that in one financial year, they are requesting only the development of the cafeteria. There was an issue of the Speaker’s Residence. Recurrent expenditures, especially imprests, become a problem because of the accountability mechanisms within the county assemblies. The county executive's financial statements are similar to those of the county assemblies. However, the Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) should be aware that the Senate has already passed the law giving them financial autonomy when they have a County Revenue Fund account within the National Treasury, which will allow them to own the process. Now, the county assemblies depend on the County Executive Committee Member for Treasury to get their allocation. However, that does not absolve them from accountability. They must appear before the Committee. In conclusion, I want The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."},{"id":1546028,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1546028/?format=json","text_counter":131,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Cherarkey","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":13217,"legal_name":"Cherarkey K Samson","slug":"cherarkey-k-samson"},"content":"to challenge county assemblies to do their oversight work as it should. For example, in Nandi County, under Governor Sang, this is the headquarters of corruption in the Western Hemisphere. In the previous financial year, there was a payroll scandal. In that scandal, even close relatives of the governor were found. The EACC came with razzmatazz and took computers. No one, including a close relative of the governor, has been arrested. As you are aware, there are many stalled projects in the county, such as car hire services. Governor Sang moves around with cars for hire of Kshs42.8 million. No one knows where these cars are hired from. I am told it is from one of the senior Cabinet Secretaries in this Government that is hiring to Nandi County Executive – You know, who I am speaking about. Governor Sang pays 18 Administrative Police officers Kshs25,000 against the recommended Kshs5,000 extraneous allowance, yet Nandi County is not Baghdad, where bombs are being thrown around. Nandi is one of the peaceful places. Therefore, I want to challenge county assemblies to ensure they do their oversight role. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those robust and bombastic comments, I beg to second."},{"id":1546029,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1546029/?format=json","text_counter":132,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Kathuri","speaker_title":"The Deputy Speaker","speaker":{"id":13590,"legal_name":"Murungi Kathuri","slug":"murungi-kathuri"},"content":" However, you make arrangements so that the Chair knows the Cabinet Secretary is providing car hire services in Nandi. I am not completely aware."},{"id":1546030,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1546030/?format=json","text_counter":133,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Question proposed)"},{"id":1546031,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1546031/?format=json","text_counter":134,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Kathuri","speaker_title":"The Deputy Speaker","speaker":{"id":13590,"legal_name":"Murungi Kathuri","slug":"murungi-kathuri"},"content":"Before I ask Senators to contribute to the Motion, I want to make this communication about visiting students from Waso Muslim JSS School in Samburu County."}]}