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{
"id": 1026997,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1026997/?format=api",
"text_counter": 186,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Kibiru",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13196,
"legal_name": "Charles Reubenson Kibiru",
"slug": "charles-reubenson-kibiru"
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"content": "on the Third Basis for sharing revenue allocated to the county government level, pursuant to Article 218 of the Constitution. As I conclude and seek support from the Senators, we have had debate of gains and losses. However, we, as the Senate, are losing it. We have been in this Senate and proposed an increase in the sharable revenue, participated in mediation and been able to push for the increase of the cake to be shared. We need to shift our gear from saying who gets what and who loses what. We need to agree that this country is ours and ask whether as the Senate because we have tried different 20 simulations. Before we joined the Committee, it had one year and they could not agree on any one formula to table in the Senate. We took upon ourselves and decided that as a new Committee we must bring something to the Senate to deliberate on. I urge the distinguished Senators to have a paradigm shift on how we look at some of these emotional issues, then, ask ourselves whether it is the duty of the Senate to ensure the cake to be shared is increased. The answer is, yes. As much as we argue here, we must forge the vertical sharing of revenue to ensure that resources follow functions. If a function is devolved, for instance, health, it is the duty of the Senate as the Legislature and elected people to ensure money for devolved functions go to the devolved functions. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I urge fellow Senators to support the formula and then as we move forward, we agree on the minimum allocation to the counties. From where we sit as a Committee, the minimum that should be taken to the counties should not be less than Kshs350 billion. The other issue we need to ask ourselves is whether prior to devolution, county councils, including the Nairobi City County used to meet their obligations. They used to pay salaries, build tarmac roads, collect garbage and collect money. Indeed, a county like Murang’a was so rich in terms revenue generation that it threatened to loan money to Tanzania. What happened? Now, we are getting money, but still do not have enough money to offer services. My proposal that we will put on the table is to encourage the county governments to pull up their socks in terms of internally generated revenue. The CRA) and other bodies have carried out a survey of the potential the counties have. They looked at six parameters; that is, property rates, business permits, building permits, outdoor advertising and liquor licenses. If Nairobi City County can marshal that, it will collect over Kshs80 billion. If all the counties that are collecting less than 20 per cent in these parameters were able to pull up their socks and get 60 per cent, we would have almost Kshs300 billion generated by the counties. Finally, we need counties to be innovative, trade with each other, identify comparative advantage and be able to state that as County ‘X’ we are good in producing this and can trade with Bloc ‘X’ of counties. In conclusion, innovation includes establishing disease-free zones for goats and cattle that can be exported. Statistically, Somali land is exporting over three million goats to Saudi Arabia with all their problems. Counties need to be innovative and generate more money. We, as a Senate, need to negotiate and legislate for increased revenue, and also pass the Equalization Fund Bill. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with those few or many remarks, I beg to move the Motion and ask the distinguished Senator for Migori to second it. 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."
}