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{
    "id": 1186016,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1186016/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 261,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Oketch Gicheru",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "the County Revenue Additional Bill as well as the Equalisation Fund Bill as well as the Equalisation Fund Bill. The Equalisation Fund has got sunset clauses that are critical to examine it in detail and also to look at some of the pending funds that have not been allocated to this. This will come in the Report and we will discuss further. I will not commit myself on the Equalisation Fund conversation. However, I wanted to stress that the additional revenue we are allocating to counties is critical. In this Bill, we are honouring Article 202(2) of the Constitution which says that – “County governments may be given additional allocations from the National Government's share of the revenue, either conditionally or unconditionally”. From the National Government revenue side, the Bill seeks to add some money on the issues that are eminent. One of them is the issue of county headquarters. You will agree with me that some of our counties are very inefficient and ineffective in carrying out their duties because of lack of proper facilities to harmonise their operations. Therefore, this Bill seeks to empower some of the counties such as Migori County, where I come from, that do not have county headquarters and proper operations. This Bill also seeks from the national Government Revenue side to energise the resources that have been put into the medical facilities in our counties. You will agree with me that one of the most stressed functions of counties is health care, which has been suffering. It is critical that healthcare is well taken care of. We have talked so much about this Bill aiming at unlocking more access to loans and grants from the development partners through the national Government. I appreciated the Senate Majority Leader talking about critical issues that form emerging complexities of our time. It is critical that Members understand that the money we are looking for is for five key areas that are critical at the moment. If we are able to unlock these monies to counties we can deal with some of the problems, we are seeing affecting the country today and making our people suffer. For instance, this Bill seeks to empower agriculture. Secondly, which I will not talk much about, this Bill seeks to support urban development which the Senate Majority Leader has talked about passionately. However, the remaining three areas are the ones that I am keenly looking at. One of them is climate change mitigation. Majority of the statements made in this House today, are on issues that emanate from climate change affecting communities. It will be critical to look at how we can fast- track this Bill to deal with the issues of mitigation and adaptation of climate change, which can help local communities deal with climate change. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, This Bill also endorses money that is going to come directly to support drought and famine. I have seen endless conversations from different esteemed colleagues in this House on drought that is affecting people in the North and every corner of this country. It is critical for Members to know that this is one of the Bills which will directly respond to the issues we are seeing on the ground with regards to drought and famine, affecting this country today."
}