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{
    "id": 1158969,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1158969/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 209,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 124,
        "legal_name": "Samson Kegeo Ongeri",
        "slug": "samson-ongeri"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank you for allowing me to also contribute to this important Grants Bill. I thank Sen. Kibiru, the Chairperson of that Committee, for ably chairing this meeting. From the outset, let me say that one of the most innovative elements on this Grants Bill, is the question of removing these unconditional grants which was very vague, to additional funds. They were bringing it within the framework of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, which will be an accountable document and account for funds being availed to county governments to spend. These funds are either grants from donors or additional loans given to the national Government from various entities like governments and other institutions. It just includes funds coming to the national kitty from whichever source. This has been put together into one annual outfit, instead of this perpetual law which did not have the requisite framework of disbursing these funds. I am happy and proud that with these arrangements for Financial Year 2021/2022, Kisii County gets an additional Kshs850 million. On the medical equipment, they get another additional Kshs153 million. This makes it almost Kshs193 million or Kshs1 billion. This is a lot of money for Kisii County Government. I believe this money is good enough. If it can be properly budgeted for under the normal annual budgeting and allocation process, it should create a far-reaching impact in the services and activities being carried out in the county government. When I become Governor, I will make sure it will be properly utilised. If we do so, then this question of waiting for conditional grants, hitherto, which has been the subject of debate, will be a matter of the past. We know that it is an annual allocation, goes through the normal allocation process through the National Treasury, National Assembly and the Senate. Once allocated, it is a predictable fund and we can now rely on the funds for particular development areas within county governments. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support the County Grants Bill (Senate Bills No. 35 of 2021) because it will add predictable revenue to the county government. Hitherto, it has not been predictable. I also agree with various sentiments expressed, that the only way we can be"
}