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{
    "id": 1400461,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1400461/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 149,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "people have since learnt that it is impossible to bully such an administration that is determined to do the right thing, though not popular at times, but the right thing in long-run. We must also begin that conversation and ensure that all the taxes being levied and paid for by our people in the county governments are accounted for. It should become impossible for people to pilfer electronically paid resources because there is a trace and the taxes are paid using a system that is accountable and from reputable firms, not just having systems that have something that is colloquially referred to by Governors as a “T” junction. It means that from the source where the citizen is paying to the bank account, there is a “T” somewhere facilitating a leakage, giving the Governor of the County a chance to leak something small out of it. We need reputable firms and that is why we provide it in legislation, so that we can provide the standards. Which companies can provide and is it possible to have one system that applies across the counties and is controlled by the county governments? There is a very lazy argument that is being peddled, stating that if we have a system applied across the 47 counties, it is a clawback on devolution. What is the problem? What citizens want is to pay their taxes and see them being used prudently in their counties. Nobody is saying that you propose a system where those resources will come to the National Government kitty. We want it to be traceable, verifiable and a means through which citizens know that, for example, if a poor old lady selling Esaga in Keumbu market, where Sen. Omogeni comes from, pays Kshs20 as the market rate for the day, then that Kshs20 goes to the coffers of the Nyamira County Government and it translates as service for her. This is so that we do not just collect taxes from ordinary citizens and because a good amount of it has been pilfered, then there is no commensurate service for the same. How many centers do you know where people from the county government collect taxes, but if you go to that town you cannot find a toilet or sanitation facilities, yet the county governments continue to collect taxes on that market? This is why as the Senate, we must take the lead in this conversation. If we leave this to the imagination of our county governments, then we will be abandoning our responsibility as the House, which is charged with the responsibility of passing legislation that enhances and entrenches devolution. This is one such legislation. Article 209(5) of our Constitution confers on us, as Parliament, the powers to regulate the exercise of fiscal responsibility by county governments. This is what I was speaking about a few minutes ago. It is important to understand that counties are charged with numerous functions and responsibilities in the Fourth Schedule of our Constitution. The imposition of property taxes on lands and buildings by county governments will be essential for generating local revenue to fund critical public services; infrastructure and community development initiatives. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}