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{
    "id": 1077364,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1077364/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 76,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Pavel Oimeke, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "The Member for Bonchari",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I recognise that the County Allocation of Revenue Bill is very critical for the operation of the counties. As has been put by the Chair, the Departmental Committee on Budget and Appropriations, the formula went through a rigorous process and has been anchored in the law that for the next two or three years it will be used. I recognise that the budget for this County Allocation of Revenue Bill is Ksh70 billion. The biggest problem hindering the counties from using that budget is the disbursement mode. I urge this honourable House to engage the National Treasury to disburse the funds in a timely manner to enable the counties to utilise the Bill. The issue of pending bills is actually a problem to the whole country. Most counties have contractors who have not been paid, some for the last five years. Some businesses have collapsed. Some of the directors of these businesses have died due to stress of having borrowed money to fund the contracts. I request this honourable House to come out strongly on this issue of pending bills to ensure that counties and the National Treasury are disbursing the funds to enable payment. I also want to highlight that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and National Treasury, Amb. Ukur Yatani, issued a directive that counties pay these bills in time. The directive is dated 30th June 2021. I wish that this is obeyed to make sure that Kenyans do not suffer due to non-payment of bills. I also wish to note that the issue of increasing salaries in the counties is a worrying trend, where counties are just paying salaries from that budget, but the percentage that is devoted to development is meagre. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, allow me once again to send my appreciation to the great people of Bonchari and all those who worked tirelessly in the just concluded super by-election for me to be a Member of this august House. The by-election was super in many respects. The reasons for Bonchari holding a by-election are well known to the Members of this House. I wish to quote from the Holy Bible in Mathew 5:14-16: \"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven\". In my career and professional life, many people have tried to put my light off, but our Father in heaven and our Lord Jesus Christ has been steadfast in dismantling these dark forces' plans, and assuring me that the will of God will be done in my life."
}