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{
"id": 1427221,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1427221/?format=api",
"text_counter": 299,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13217,
"legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
"slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
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"content": "If Safaricom, Jambo Pay and KRA are collecting, we need transparency and value for money. For example, In the case of Kwale or Kilifi County, the agency fee was more than half of what they were collecting. It is not fair in terms for the county treasury. Even as we do the system, it must be simple, transparent and verifiable. The best practice we can borrow is from KRA. I know to some of us, KRA is not a good name to mention to, but it is the one that collects revenue on behalf of all of us. Even as we outsource the system, we must request counties to employ an automatic revenue system. Even in your county of Bomet, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we need to know if they have automated revenue collection system and how much agency fee they are paying? That is why most counties are using a principle of shooting at the sun and land on the moon. I am trying to recall the revenue potential for Bomet County. For example, in Nandi County, the Commission of Revenue Allocation (CRA) potential that we should collect per year is Kshs630 million, but normally we do not go beyond Kshs300 million. It means there are a lot of leakages, corruption and ineffectiveness. Sometimes, you are told the systems are down when you are to pay for any of own source revenue. The third point is that the county treasury shall submit copies of the quarterly statement and report to the Senate and the National Treasury. This will allow transparency and accountability so that we know, for example, when Jambo Pay is collecting for Meru County, how much they are collecting and the agent fees they are taking. If, for example, Safaricom is collecting on behalf of Makueni County, how much are they charging? How much are they raising? How much is the agent fee and what is the contractual obligation? That is what we want to see. Secondly, you submit these reports to county assemblies because they are supposed to do the primary oversight. They are supposed to be part of the oversight to ensure the collection of revenue system is up to par. I agree with this statement that we must also submit these reports to the Senate and the National Treasury. I know that when some people hear the mention of the National Treasury, they will say that we are undermining devolution. We are not; we are just borrowing best practices. On the flipside, Sen. Kibwana, as you consult, I know the Senate Minority Leader was somewhere the other week. Maybe, he is telling you the fairy stories of the sojourner and the journey across the world. I have been thinking. Why should you submit to the National Treasury? We should just submit to the county assembly and the Senate. Those are enough so that the national Government does not overreach the functions of devolution. Finally, we must build the capacity of the county assembly. I am the biggest supporter of Members of County Assemblies (MCAs). However, my only concern even as we give these powers to MCAs, can they stop being a rubberstamp of governors? Sometimes, we give them powers, but when you go to a function and an MCA stands and becomes a public relations officer of a governor. I saw that one in Vihiga County. A whole MCA who is supposed to be doing oversight, is the one explaining the governor's project more than the governor. 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."
}