Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1245541,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1245541/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 255,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Osotsi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13588,
        "legal_name": "Osotsi Godfrey Otieno",
        "slug": "osotsi-godfrey-otieno"
    },
    "content": "can decide to go for a lower figure of Kshs385.4 billion and not Kshsh407 billion, we let down our counties. As Sen. Sifuna has said, when we are given an opportunity to increase our resource envelope, we must take that opportunity and increase the resources that we allocate to the counties. It was a sad day in this Senate that we refused more money; Kshs407 billion and went for Kshs385.4 billion. My county lost. In this Revenue Allocation Bill, I know the allocation to my county has increased by Kshs200 million but that is still very little. It is going to increase to Kshs5,267,000,000. That is too little increase. If we had gotten Kshs407 billion, we would have increased by Kshs5.5 billion or so. Madam Temporary Speaker, in future, we need to ensure that when we are given an opportunity to give more money to our counties, please, let us do so, so that they can run their operation smoothly. Members, I have talked about a number of issues. For the purposes of time, let me generally say that Article 96 (1) of the Constitution gives us a lot of powers. It states – ‘The Senate represents the counties, and serves to protect the interest of counties and their governments.’ Madam Temporary Speaker, to be honest, as a first time Senator here, having served in the National Assembly before, I believe we need to seriously reset this Senate. There are so many things that are yet to be resolved yet we are here as a Senate. In fact, when Sen. Cherarkey brought that Statement on MCAs and was reading it out, I was asking myself so many questions. Why must the Senate appear like we are unable to do some things? We are there to protect counties, and counties includes county assemblies. What are we doing about it? How can the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) just decide to slash their salaries and we do not do anything? We wait until they strike and then pretend that we want to do something. The relevant committees must quickly sit down and make a resolution even if it means coming up with a Motion on this Floor for the Senate to be heard very clearly. We have the powers under Article 96 of the Constitution. The law is very clear on the issue of delayed disbursement of funds. Article 219 of the Constitution requires that – “A county’s share of revenue raised by the national Government shall be transferred to the county without undue delay and without deduction, except when the transfer has been stopped under Article 225.” That is very clear. Why are we allowing the national Government to go against the law and we are quiet? We are doing nothing about it. Every now and then, every year, we pass disbursement schedule. After this Bill has been passed, we will pass a disbursement schedule. Why do we do that if the ultimate powers are with the National Treasury to vary when the money will be given and how much would be given? The Senate has to reset and assert itself and do its work. We should not join the chorus that is crying outside there when we have the law on our side. My Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds, is currently dealing with the issue of pension funds in the counties where counties owe employees Kshs60 billion."
}