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{
    "id": 1064295,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1064295/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 405,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Milgo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13174,
        "legal_name": "Milgo Alice Chepkorir",
        "slug": "milgo-alice-chepkorir"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, Clause 49 is important since it amends part of the Public Finance and Management Act. This is a very interesting Clause because it speaks to issues of revenue allocation to the counties. We have been having several fights in this House trying to allocate funds to the counties. Last year it was even more challenging. This one is speaking to the fact that one will use the current audited accounts by the Auditor-General. This will go a long way in ensuring that there is reduction of time in terms of waiting for funds that go to the counties. Counties have really suffered. Recently, I saw the Council of Governors (CoG) complaining that seven months have passed without any funds going to the counties. This is an indicator that salaries and bills have not been paid. Projects that were started cannot also be completed. Therefore, people are not getting value for their money. Madam Temporary Speaker, this is a major challenge to the extent that we have had people having reservations of carrying out projects in the counties because they feel they will not be paid in good time. In addition, Clause 50 of the Bill amends Article 203(b) to increase revenue to the counties from 15 per cent to 35 per cent. Clause 54 also adds a new clause to introduce the Ward Development Fund. This will go a long way to spur equitable service to our people at the village level. In this case, irrespective of the voting affiliations, this money will go a long way to assist the counties. This will create new investment centres, provision of high quality healthcare, water and improved education and infrastructure. Furthermore, there is a provision that gives the management of this Fund, and if followed to the letter, the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) will incorporate public participation. It will then be implemented in a better way. Madam Temporary Speaker, this amendment Bill is very critical because it is addressing the problems of the youth. The youth constitute over 75 per cent of the population of this country. Many of them are educated, but unemployed. There is already creation of the Youth Commission that will focus on the issues affecting the youth, the four year grace period after completing university and even for the graduates who have start up businesses; they have a seven-year tax holiday. As the Chairperson of the Committee of Education, I have been meeting many graduates who have been complaining about payment of loans that they acquired for their education in the universities. I think this shall go a long way in curing this challenge. Madam Temporary Speaker, Clause 10 amends Article 89 to increase the constituencies from 290 to 360. While this has become a very contentious issue since morning up to now, while we feel that a function of the IEBC has been usurped, it is not the end. We still have a lot of work to be done to these 70 constituencies that are proposed. As a Senator from Bomet County, I am very proud because I am a supporter of the BBI. At the same time, my constituency is gaining two constituencies. This is assuring my county of improved representation and resource allocation. It will also actualize what we call one vote, one man, one shilling. It could not have come at a better time. Madam Temporary Speaker, Clause 44 amends Article 172 to the office of the Judiciary Ombudsman. Many of my colleagues have actually disagreed with this and"
}