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{
"id": 1625582,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625582/?format=api",
"text_counter": 333,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "why all of us should be here although I know my colleagues are following keenly on the Floor of the House and in our lounge because this is critical. Madam Temporary Speaker, I heard somebody trying to castigate the former Prime Minister in one of the events, which is uncalled for. As a Senate, we had said that Kshs465 billion should go to counties. It is the economic reality. I was also disappointed at the beginning, because we thought counties should get more. Looking at the national budget of Kshs4.2 trillion, we thought the counties should get 50 per cent of the national budget. Madam Temporary Speaker, because of the economic realities, the Committee of Finance and Budget and the Mediation Committee came back with Kshs415 billion to the counties. I want to set the record straight. To many Kenyans from our 47 counties, we did add almost Kshs28 billion, up from last year when we had Kshs387 billion, under shareable revenue. So, there is additional funds. I would like the Fourth Estate, Kenyans and governors to get it right, that there was an additional funding to counties, courtesy of our Mediation Committee and also the Committee of Finance and Budget. Madam Temporary Speaker, for example, in Nandi County, we are going to get additional funding, up to Kshs7.7 billion in shareable revenue. For Kenyans to understand, shareable revenue is not inclusive of additional funds, conditional funds, such as grants and own-source revenue. Kenyans can understand because many people confuse and governors take advantage and tell them there is no money that has been released from Nairobi, yet they are not telling Kenyans there are additional funds and conditional funds, including grants. I know later in the day, with your indulgence and understanding, they will be able to move the Equalisation Fund, which is yet to be released. All this money will, in one way or another, go to our counties for development. So, on the shareable revenue, I am happy that as a House, we did sit down. It is our vision to have counties get more funds day in, day out, for the benefit of development. I saw the Senator of Nairobi City County bring a statement on the stalled projects in Nairobi City County. Those are the challenges that we are facing. Even in my county, I did indicate earlier that there are so many stalled projects. The Nandi County Assembly did consider an ad hoc report where Kshs6 billion worth of projects cannot be accounted by the County Government of Nandi. It is unfortunate because when you go to Chepterwai, Nyayo Ward dispensary, where I was on Friday, has stalled yet the people of Mosop Sub-County and people around have to go to Western Kenya to seek medical services. Kobujoi Hospital has also stalled as well Kapsengere Hospital in Terik Ward which is neighbouring you, Madam Temporary Speaker, in Kisumu County. This is affecting provision of health services in that region. I hope when we push to increase this money through conditional allocation of revenue to counties, it will assist to jumpstart, facilities like Kapsengere Hospital. It is also unfortunate that the newborn mother and baby unit in Kapsabet Town Hospital is wobbling and yet to be completed. Similarly, Kabiyet Dairies Company Limited has been built for the last eight years by the County Government of Nandi. They have not been able to even process 100 millimeters of milk in that facility, yet that project being co- financed, has consumed close to Kshs1 billion. 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": 1625583,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625583/?format=api",
"text_counter": 334,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "On Friday, I had an occasion of attending a retirement party of Mwalimu Limo in Kamakap in Aldai. I was able to pass by a dispensary, called Kibwareng and you could find there is no sufficient drugs and the provision of medical services is wanting. So, the county allocation of revenue to counties should jumpstart. The Mover of the Motion, Sen. Mutinda, has alluded to the issue of pending bills. As we talk, it is almost Kshs200 billion that are pending bills. The reason we push for more increment to counties is to ensure counties are able to pay their first charge, which is pending bills. It is sad, when you go to Kisumu, Busia, all the way to Mandera counties, there are so many young businessmen and women who have suffered diabetes or high blood pressure because their only mistake was to work for county governments. They are yet to be paid. A few months ago, somebody in one of our counties had to walk naked, because they are yet to be paid. Most of the projects that are being done by our businessmen and women, including Nandi County, are yet to be paid by the county governments, yet most of them, took Local Purchase Orders (LPOs) to get loans, guaranteed with their land and money. Can you believe there are Kenyans, who provided for service and goods in counties that are yet to be paid? What do they use the money that we give to county governments for? The reason the devolution was brought was to give opportunity to many Kenyans across our counties to have an opportunity to do business in our counties. Even here, in Nairobi City County, there was a case of legal fees of almost Kshs2 billion, that is yet to be paid. In fact, 60 to 80 per cent of the pending bills that is around Kshs200 billion, comes from Nairobi City County. Today, there was a Statement of most of the stalled projects in this county. You have seen occasion when it rains, the roads within the city that should be maintained by the County Government of Nairobi City, are yet to be achieved. I remember the Governor used to say, “Lazima iwork” However, it looks like it does not work. So, some of these challenges that we are facing, including the issue of pending bills, must be considered so that counties can have opportunity to put in place. Thirdly, Madam Temporary Speaker, I know the Controller of Budget (CoB) has been having a problem. We have had sittings on a number of occasions. I want to challenge Members of the Committee on Finance and Budget to sit with the CoB. Another challenge is that most counties make requisitions. The elephant in the room is voiding of payments. You will find somebody requesting to pay “A” but when money is released to a County Revenue Fund (CRF) account, they pay “B”. That is when voiding of payments happens. For example, there was voiding of payments in my county of almost Kshs500 million. They tell the CoB that they are going to pay “Y”, but they pay “Z”. That is what is killing counties. I do not know whether you need to look nice for governors to pay or something like that. It does not make sense that we push for increment, but the issue of pending bills or the CoB--- Madam Temporary Speaker, I know governors are very uncomfortable with the CoB. You are also aware about that because you sit with us in this House and also in a number of committees. We need to ask the Controller of Budget, Dr. Nyakang’o, to be on the lookout because we do not want requisitions to be made by counties after we have 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": 1625584,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625584/?format=api",
"text_counter": 335,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "allocated funds, then they are used for voiding of payments. That is what is killing the counties. Fourthly is the issue of the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG). Before I talk about the OAG, under Article 219, the law is very clear. Why is it that every time--- I know Members of the Committee on Finance and Budget and the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, Hon. John Mbadi, have been on the receiving end. On many occasions, we have been complaining---"
},
{
"id": 1625585,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625585/?format=api",
"text_counter": 336,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mumma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Sen. Cherarkey, your words have been brought to me now. Do you want to sit for a second?"
},
{
"id": 1625586,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625586/?format=api",
"text_counter": 337,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Sen. Cherarkey sat at his place)"
},
{
"id": 1625587,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625587/?format=api",
"text_counter": 338,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mumma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": "This is what you said- “Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. From the onset, I want to support the Committee for the good work. I think this is the only Committee, apart from of course yours truly, Public Accounts Committee.” The wording is clear because that is what you said. By “the only one”, it impugns improper motive about other committees. I kindly request that you withdraw."
},
{
"id": 1625588,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625588/?format=api",
"text_counter": 339,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, I profusely withdraw and apologise. The fourth point I want to make is on Article 219 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. We sanctioned the former Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, Hon. Ukur Yatani, during the previous session for delaying disbursements to counties. Article 219 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 is very clear. The money should be released to the counties without undue delay. Therefore, I appeal to the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, we have been demanding answers especially when counties do not receive funds on time. When we summon governors to come here and ask them questions, which is doing our oversight as per Article 96 of our Constitution, it is holding them to account. Article 219 has been abused. Why should counties go without money for more than a quarter in a financial year? I know there are challenges of collection of revenue in the country, but that should not be a justification. The biggest problem in the counties is own-source revenue. Most counties have automated their revenue collection systems. However, most of them do not own the systems. Madam Temporary Speaker, Governor Kimani Wamatangi was here courtesy of your office. Somewhere in his report, he said there was an increment in terms of collection of revenue. A number of counties have projected their revenue. We request that the money they get is used to add value to many Kenyans. This should be a wake-up call to many of our people, so that we see development going into the future. I request colleagues that as we push for more funds to the counties, we must be very--- In conclusion, Madam Temporary Speaker, I want to challenge counties. We have challenges of lack of opportunities for many young people. I call upon counties to be creative. I have not seen in the Order Paper, but we have the Creative Economy Support 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": 1625589,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625589/?format=api",
"text_counter": 340,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Bill that talks about the creatives. It seeks to ensure that young people monetize their social media accounts. Madam Temporary Speaker, I seek for your indulgence to pass my deepest condolences because we lost one comedian called “KK Mwenyewe”. May his soul rest in peace. We used to enjoy whenever he acted. May God be with his family. Back to the issue of the creatives, I want to challenge counties. It is not enough to issue balls for football or volleyball, nets or games kits. Counties should come up with something creative through allocation of funds. As the national Government does development--- Madam Temporary Speaker, over the weekend, I visited a place called Chepsir. It is raining heavily in my region and you are aware about that because you are our neighbour. There is heavy rainfall at the moment and the roads are impassible and in a pathetic state. I am happy that there are changes in some roads agencies in this country. Madam Temporary Speaker, I am not an engineer, but a lawyer like you. There is a road from Cheptiret to Moi University Main Campus. As I was passing near Chepsir Village next to Cheptiret, those guys were putting murram then tarmac on top. I wondered what type of engineering that was. One of the biggest challenges in this country is misappropriation of funds. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) must be on the lookout. I am happy that the EACC will have access to the e-procurement platform. We want them to take advantage and ensure there is no misappropriation of funds. I pray and hope that one day, the EACC will ensure that there is no misappropriation of funds in our counties. The problem with the reports of the Office of the Auditor-General is that we are morticians because we come after the fact. I want to challenge the EACC to put in place preventive mechanisms, so that we do not lose resources in our counties in order to get value for money. They appear before the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) of the Senate, but we cannot prevent anything because we are just morticians. The only time we have an opportunity is during revenue allocation to counties, then we come back after looking at the reports of the Auditor-General. There are many recommendations we can make as a Senate, but the only implementing agency--- Madam Temporary Speaker, I have served in this House for some time. There is a problem that we face. When you go to a public baraza, people ask what the Senate is doing about stoppage of funds. I want to take this opportunity to inform Kenyans that the work of Parliament is to recommend. We have the EACC and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) as investigation and prosecution agencies. If there is misappropriation of funds in our counties, the much we can do is to recommend investigation and prosecution by the EACC and ODPP, especially on the issue of economic crimes. Madam Temporary Speaker, since I want to allow colleagues to also contribute, as I second, I would like to say that this is a critical Bill. Governors should be aware that these are not their funds. On several occasions, governors love and like Senators during this time only. However, when you go to a village, whether in Kisumu or Busia, and tell Governor Otuoma or Prof. Nyong’o that you have brought money--- There is another 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": 1625590,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625590/?format=api",
"text_counter": 341,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "governor whom I have tremendous respect for. They should know that resources that we allocate are not theirs, but money belonging to Kenyans. With those many remarks, Madam Temporary Speaker, I beg to second and thank you."
},
{
"id": 1625591,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625591/?format=api",
"text_counter": 342,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mumma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Hon. Senators, I will propose the question."
}
]
}