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{
    "id": 1054671,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1054671/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 269,
    "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": "implementing quite a number of projects in urban areas. The county governments should also try as much as possible to raise their own revenue as opposed to relying on donor funding. Finally, the Bill introduces four new additional conditional allocations from proceeds realised from our development partners. Hon. Speaker, these are the following: (i) Emergency Locust Response Project (ELRP) Kshs800 million financed by the World Bank to prevent and respond to the threat to livelihoods posed by the desert locust outbreak. This is a seasonal project until the locusts are eradicated. (ii) The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) – 9th Country Programme Implementation, Kshs73.87 million, intended to address the national priorities under the Third Kenya Medium-Plan under the Big Four Agenda. (iii) Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project II, Kshs2.8 Billion funded by the World Bank. (iv) Primary healthcare in devolved context at a cost of Kshs701.25 Million, a grant from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). (v) Finally, the IDA-Kenya Devolution Support Program (Level 4 Grant) worth Kshs4.6 billion. It is important to underscore this grant because it is based on the fiscal prudence of each county. Counties that have better fiscal prudence get this fund. It is good because it is encouraging counties to also compete amongst themselves. Hon. Speaker, the Committee made the following observations: (i) The conversion of the allocation to county governments from the Fuel Levy Fund (15%) - Kshs9.4 billion, is in contravention of the statute establishing the Fund and whose intention was to ring fence critical financing for road maintenance by both national and county governments. However, the counties have become of age. The county chiefs are also now responsible enough such that we do not need to tell them that this money is for a particular project. They also have to be responsible that if funds are sent to them for roads, that money should purely go for roads. It is in their discretion now if they feel that their priority is paying salaries… Of course, there are those who are going to do that, but they should know that there is a cap on how much they should spend on salaries. It is calling for fiscal prudence. We also have a concern of possible inability to oversee use of the conditional grants allocated to counties. Conversion of the conditional grants to equitable share will not address this problem. We have had in the past, including in the county where the former Hon. Leader of the Majority Party comes from, a big issue on some conditional grants being diverted to do other things. It is a huge issue. We also ask the Senators to focus on their legislative and oversight role. Hon. Speaker, I have not seen serious Senators working on these conditional grants and interrogating. We want to see them more in the counties. I am hoping and looking forward to see the seats reserved for Senators in county assemblies especially when they are doing their budgets, occupied by Senators. It is important to note that there has been an ongoing practice by county governments of utilising conditional grants for purposes other than that stipulated under the law in disregard of the Division of Revenue Act and the County Allocation of Revenue Act and should be investigated. Conversion of health related conditional grants to equitable share without prior tabling of a report indicating the extent of development of county related health institutions could lead to health burden to affected county governments during a pandemic period and affect service delivery. 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."
}