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{
    "id": 1232068,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1232068/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 457,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13599,
        "legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
        "slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
    },
    "content": "others are listening to their political leadership. I first heard of this figure of Kshs385 billion from one the leaders in Kenya Kwanza. Madam Temporary Speaker, under Article 215, there is established a CRA and is given the principle function of making recommendations concerning the basis of equitable share of revenue raised by the National Government. It says that in doing that job under Article 216(3)(a), it shall make sure that it promotes and gives effect to the criteria set out in Article 203(1). That Article 203(1) criteria under Article 203(1)(d) says that- “One of the criteria is the need to ensure that county governments are able to perform the functions allocated to them.” I also want to refer this House to Article 216(5). It says- “The Commission shall submit its recommendations, first to the Senate, then the National Assembly, the National Executive, county assemblies and county executives.” Madam Temporary Speaker, there is a reason why the Constitution specifically in this particular Article starts by indicating who should be first recipient of the recommendations of the CRA. This is because we are the House that is sworn to protect the interests of the counties and their governments. Madam Temporary Speaker, recently in this House we passed certain new Bills that have placed certain financial obligations and responsibilities hitherto not placed to county governments. I will give the example the Vocational, Education and Training Centres Bill which now requires county governments to establish these vocational centres and they require extra allocation of resources. We passed the promotion of Dignity and Social Rights Act here, which requires that county governments put in place certain measures to enable them meet social rights, especially under Article 43. All those require resources. Madam Temporary Speaker, we had workers in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) coming before this Senate to ask they be retained at the counties on the same terms as the other medical practitioners within the counties. The counties are telling us that for them to do that, they need resources. I come from the County of Nairobi. Out of the Kshs160 billion that is the pending bills owed by the county governments to various suppliers, Kshs100 billion is owed by the County of Nairobi only. I have instructions from the people of Nairobi, including my Governor, that I must find the extra coin for us to be able to pay these pending bills for us to move forward. If you look at the Bill, it has provided under Section V the rationale for the proposed county governments equitable revenue share allocation. You will see under Article 5(b) that they are talking of a high level of debt financing as well as elevated debt risk as the reason they are denying county governments more money and giving it all to the National Government. As the people sworn to protect the interests of county governments, we must ask ourselves if the national debt is superior to county debts in terms of the ability to allow respective governments to be able to meet their obligations and the work they are supposed to do under the Constitution."
}