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"id": 1427217,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1427217/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
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"speaker": {
"id": 13217,
"legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
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"content": "In our brief in the CPAC, we normally ask revenue potential of each county. You will find that there is no county that has ever met revenue system. I remember today there was a county that we were meeting, Laikipia County Executive, and they had missed their own source revenue target by over Kshs411 million, apart from the revenue they had set, which is not realistic. Nandi County Executive has a potential target of Kshs630 million on own source revenue according to Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA). However, it has never gone beyond Kshs400 million. So, it means most of the counties are missing their own- source revenue target by half. Therefore, borrowing the best practices from the National Treasury does not undermine devolution in any way. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I know there are people who imagine and think that when Sen. Kibwana proposes that they should do so in consultation with the National Treasury, we are undermining devolution. We are not. We are complementing it because they are mutual, distinct and complimentary in borrowing what we call best practices. I know this word ‘consultation’ was famous during Grand Coalition Government and agreement between the former President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. It does not mean that we are lording over another entity. There is also a challenge of revenue collection. For example, in Nandi County, they produce several triplicate receipts. However, the receipt they surrender to the County Treasury is only one. Where are the other two receipts? That is how they are stealing money. The boda boda operators pay around Kshs300 per stickers for single permit. This also applies to land rates, rent, fees and daily parking. It always becomes a challenge because crooked county government officials take advantage and steal. The issue is same receipts with the different serial numbers. I remember there was a time every evening when Nandi County used to bank their money at Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) in Kapsabet and they used to lose over Kshs96,000. There are lots of leakages. They have set up cess points. I do not understand when I am transporting building stones from Thika I pay Cess as I enter Nairobi City, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu and Nandi counties. We are encouraging double taxation by counties. Why can I not pay cess at the origin of the product or the end of delivery? This is overcharging. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the money that counties collect does not have value. We have never seen value. For example, when you go to Kapsabet County Market - I know Sen. Osotsi knows this - the county askaris and county revenue officers will enforce with fire and fury. However, at Kapsabet Town Market, you will find no toilets, clean water, electricity or anyone collecting dirt from the mama mbogas . When it comes to collecting receipts, you will see governors sending their askaris and revenue officers. At the end of the day, that money goes to the county treasury. There is no value for money. It is the same for Kaptumo, Mosoriot, Kabiyet, Maraba and Kobucho. Women are selling along the road in an open market. They cannot sell because of the rain and dust. Yet, counties will be quick to collect the revenue. In Cheptarit and other centres in Nandi County, they will go for motorbike stickers. In Chemase, they do not have a boda boda shade, but the county will demand for the stickers. In Soba, Rikibokat, Mombwa and Chepteruat centres, they have not been 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."
}