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{
    "id": 1186164,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1186164/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 409,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ali Roba",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "As a leader, while I acknowledge that we have a serious problem of the urban poor in this country that needs to be taken into consideration, all the areas identified by the CRA can be qualified as having the urban poor that need affirmative action from the Government of the day. Maybe we can have another 1.5 per cent of the revenues collected nationally to address the issues affecting the urban poor while safeguarding the original intent of the drafters of the Constitution, which is that Equalization Funds be used for the previously marginalized counties as a result deliberate Government policies. That was deliberate denial of resources by successive governments before the advent of devolution. As such, it is an issue whereby if we separate the Bill and we have the Equalization Fund maybe we shall interrogate to see to what extent to define. Like my colleagues who have contributed before me, I also feel that we need to look at the concept of the Sunset Clause. This is because Article 204 of the Constitution creates a provision that can be exploited by Parliament to make sure that we have justice by extending the Sunset Clause because 12 years have already been lost. Madam Temporary Speaker, I agree with my colleagues on the issue of oversight funds because Kshs32 billion is a lot of money. While I acknowledge that it follows the model that requires that once the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill is passed, then county governments that may not have included in their appropriation will have to do that through their budgets in order to make sure that the oversight responsibility as required by the law, follows the same trajectory. This is also part of the many additional responsibilities that Senators will have to undertake to ensure absolute compliance. That way, development partners will find it more prudent to help county governments get more money. By counties prudently utilizing the money and with proper oversight of the monies allocated under this Act, the Senate will play its rightful role. Madam Temporary Speaker, I beg to reply and request that you defer putting of the question to a later date pursuant to Standing Order No.66 (3). I thank you."
}