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{
    "id": 1054670,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1054670/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 268,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kieni, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kanini Kega",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1813,
        "legal_name": "James Mathenge Kanini Kega",
        "slug": "james-mathenge-kanini-kega"
    },
    "content": "(a) A sum of Kshs7.2 billion has been allocated for leasing of medical equipment. This is a grant which was initiated in the Financial Year 2015/2016. (b) A sum of Kshs332 million has been set aside to supplement county allocations for construction of county headquarters in Isiolo, Lamu, Nyandarua, Tana River and Tharaka Nithi. At the inception, these counties did not have county headquarters. (c) Additional conditional grants from proceeds of loans and grants by our developing partners amounting to Kshs32.2 billion has been spread across 12 Government agencies as per the attached list to the Statement that I have already tabled. However, one thing is clear, that these are grants to assist in urban and rural development in all parts of this country. Hon. Speaker, in line with Article 202(2) of the Constitution, the national Government has been allocating additional funds to county governments from the national Government share of revenue raised nationally. However, in the Financial Year 2021/2022, there seems to be a policy shift from the past practice. In a meeting called Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) chaired by the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, together with all the governors and county executive committee members (CECs) in charge of finance, they agreed that the Division of Revenue Bill 2021 shall seek to convert into equitable share status most of the previously allocated conditional grants from the national Government equitable share worth Kshs17.02 billion. These include the following: (i) Allocation from the Fuel Levy Fund amounting to Kshs9.4 billion or 15 per cent of the fuel meant for maintenance of county roads as published by the Kenya Roads Board Act, 1999. The conversion should, however, be taken in line with the provisions of Article 206 of the Constitution and defined as revenue. (ii) Compensation for user fees foregone, which amounts to Kshs900 million, to compensate public dispensaries and health centres for loss of revenue or abolishment of user fees. This was meant to cushion and ensure sustainable Government policy of not charging user fees in public health facilities. This has now been converted to equal shareable of revenue. (iii) A sum of Kshs4.3 billion was going to five Level 5 hospitals. In the wisdom of that summit, it was decided that other counties have become of age and should also have their own Level 5 hospitals. They decided the money would be shareable revenue across the entire country. However, it is a high time that these regional blocks came together, if they deem it fit. I come from Nyeri. If they feel they have patients coming from outside Nyeri County, it is the responsibility of the economic block to sit down and agree on what they can do to support or supplement what the Nyeri County Government would be giving to the Nyeri Provincial Hospital, and they are all over the country. (iv) Rehabilitation of youth polytechnics at a cost of Kshs2 billion was introduced during the Financial Year 2017/2018 and was aimed at enhancing access to quality and relevant skills training to youths across the counties. Finally, we want to note and, maybe, remind the Senate that the issue of accountability has not been forthcoming, especially from the county level. In fact, it is a challenge that we are throwing to the Senators. Instead of the many instances that we have seen them interrogating parastatals and other national Government agencies, it is high time we saw them interrogating the county funds, especially donor funded projects. There is also a tendency by some county governments to rely so much on donor funded projects. Some of them have dried up. There is the Kenya Urban Support Programme (KUSP), for example, whose taps have dried up. It was building roads and healthcare facilities, and The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}