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{
    "id": 1245498,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1245498/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 212,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I rise to support this important Bill in its amended version. Although I support the Bill, sometimes I am baffled as to why we sit here and debate both the vertical and horizontal Bills in terms of how funds are divided and sent to counties or between the two arms of government. The Constitution is quite clear that the money that is supposed to be sent to counties should not be delayed or reduced at all. It has to be sent immediately. All of us are here supporting this Bill so that our counties can get money. Do we ever ask why we should not penalize the National Treasury for delaying the disbursement of money to counties? A couple of weeks ago we invited the Cabinet Secretary in charge of the National Treasury to explain to us why he was violating the Constitution when it comes to the issue of disbursement. I am happy that this Senate is taking its work seriously and passing legislation. It is about time we have a conversation on how to safeguard the money supposed to go to counties. The Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) is doing a fantastic job and I am happy with the steps they are taking but they have to be consistent. I have noted the ceilings for the county executives particularly Narok County have gone down from the previous year’s ceiling. When I inquired from the Committee they indicated that this is from the county staff establishment and there are a few things that have changed. They have shared them with the CRA. The CRA has realized that earlier on they had overestimated their ceiling budgets but now they have come down. I have also been made to understand that the County Executive Committee Members (CECM) will no longer be drawing money from the Executives budget; they will be drawing money from their line Ministries or departments. As we debate this, we are aware that counties are up in arms saying they would like to be given money for this and that. I think it is important that we explain to them that there are a few things that have happened. For instance, the salaries for the governor and the deputy governor have been adjusted downwards. It is important for them to know that under full disclosure. Secondly, when they realize that their ceilings have been reduced, it is important for them to realize that it is not the Senate that reduced the ceiling. The ceiling for Narok County Executive was reduced from Kshs607 million in the previous financial year 2022/2023 to Kshs545,667,287 in the financial year 2023/2024. Nairobi City County has been heavily affected. Before their ceiling was Kshs816 million but in this financial year it has gone down to Kshs640 million."
}