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{
    "id": 1099232,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1099232/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 233,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kibiru",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13196,
        "legal_name": "Charles Reubenson Kibiru",
        "slug": "charles-reubenson-kibiru"
    },
    "content": "(b) The National Treasury should transfer the total disbursement for the first two months of the FY 2021/2022 within seven days upon approval of the cash disbursement schedule. This is important because it appears we have a National Treasury that does not respect the law. It is important that Kenyans and everybody knows that when we approve it today, we expect the disbursements for the past two months to be made expeditiously. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the County Cash Disbursement Schedule is a key Senate resolution as it operationalizes the release and transfer of approved allocation pursuant to the County Allocation of Revenue Act (CARA). The preparation of the schedule is informed by the basis of National Treasury estimates on revenue collection and overall cash flow needs for implementing programmed activities, projects and policies. The allocations in the schedule should be in line with what was negotiated. That is Kshs370 billion, which is also provided in the CARA, 2021, using the third basis formula for equitable sharing of revenue that was approved by the Senate in September, 2020. The County Allocation of Revenue Bill was assented to on 29th June, 2021, together with the related legislative instrument. Standing Order No. 183(1) provides that not later than the 15th day following the enactment of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance shall submit to the Senate the Cash Disbursement Schedule for county governments, which shall be deemed to have been laid before the Senate. It is on record that the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Planning took about 38 days. I saw the National Treasury releasing a press statement and trying to blame the Senate but this is a House of record. There is evidence that they took their time by having 38 as opposed to the 15 days that are provided by law. The schedule is quite simple because it does not contain conditional grants, which may have involved consultation with many stakeholders and external partners. This act of delay is in bad faith and infringement of our Standing Orders. It further adversely affects functioning of county governments, especially when disbursement of funds to the counties is delayed in disguise that the Cash Disbursement Schedule has not been approved. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I wish to state that the National Treasury was erroneous in delaying the submission of the schedule for approval and hence delaying disbursement of funds to the counties. Secondly, the National Treasury was misleading by putting it that the delay was caused by the Senate. I have already talked about that. I do not know why the National Treasury assumes that the distinguished Senators are idle and can always dance to their tune as and when they are ready. This is a House of procedure and we follow the law and our Standing Orders. I urge the National Treasury to wake up and do their work as expected. It may be noted that the disbursement schedule contains only allocations from the county equitable share. This is a departure from the tradition where the disbursement schedule had 3 schedules- (a) Schedule 1 on disbursement of the equitable share allocation;"
}