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{
    "id": 1406060,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406060/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 388,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wambua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13199,
        "legal_name": "Enoch Kiio Wambua",
        "slug": "enoch-kiio-wambua"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity to add my voice on the Division of Revenue Bill, 2024. I want to make a few remarks beginning with a conflict in the Bill itself. I have heard the explanation from the Chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Budget on Clause 4 of the Bill. Where there is reference to a base of Kshs374.5 billion, he referred to it as an error. In Clause 5, that base moves to Kshs385 billion. Whereas the Chairperson appreciates that as an error, I look at it as a calculated move to justify denying funds to counties. I say this because this is not new to us. We have walked this path before. I like the contribution by Sen. Mungatana. He said that the best way of killing devolution is to deny counties revenue. This is what is happening with this Bill that has emanated from the National Assembly. It is the National Assembly that has the responsibility to audit accounts. If you look at the First Schedule, they have put it in black and white that what they are talking about is a percentage of 2020/2021 audited and approved revenue, which was Kshs1.5 trillion. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it beats logic that we are being guided by a percentage derived from audited and approved revenues of four financial years down the line to make a determination on how much money we shall be giving to our counties. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if we are taking Kshs385 billion for the previous financial year as the base and then giving counties Kshs391 billion this year, in absolute terms, we are only adding Kshs5.6 billion to counties. That is the backdrop of these three realities; one, county governors in their wisdom, I say that because it is their wisdom, have gone into a deal with the national Government for the establishment of what they are calling the industrial parks. Each 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."
}