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{
    "id": 1445774,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1445774/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 168,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Methu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13581,
        "legal_name": "Methu John Muhia",
        "slug": "methu-john-muhia"
    },
    "content": "Out of the monies that we were supposed to get from the national Government in the 2022/2023 budget, which was Kshs1.8 billion, about Kshs800 million was released. I am not certain how much was absorbed in the 2023/2024 budget. If there is money still remaining at the national Government, it is high time we ensured that we send it to the counties. In that regard, it is the reason I feel that even as we deal with matters that we are speaking about, such as cutting our budgets and taking austerity measures, if there are monies that we as a House must try and protect, it is money that is supposed to go to devolution. Even though the Finance Bill did not see light of the day, it does not mean that we cannot collect as much as we collected last year. The minimum that we can get is what we got last year. We cannot get less than what we got last year in terms of the monies that will be send to the counties. If anything, even revenues have expanded. The revenues we are collecting this year are not the same as what we collected last year. If our revenues and the budget of the national Government are expanding, we must also expand the budget of the counties. We were being told that the national Government has a big burden, which I agree with because we need to absorb Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers and take care of our doctors. However, even as we absorb JSS teachers, there is the plight of Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers in our counties who are earning a meagre Kshs8,000. If we do not send enough money to help governors to ensure that they have ECDE teachers on good contracts, so that they enjoy the fruits of their labour, we will have done a disservice to our counties. I know that will be a substantive Motion that we will deliberate on regarding money that we are supposed to send to the counties. I feel that even in the budgets of the county governments--- There was a share that was supposed to be contributed by county governments, even as we cry about money that we want to push from the national budget. Concerning monies that are supposed to be appropriated by county governments, there should not be an issue on expending. They should be able to have budgeted in this budget of 2024/2025, so that we remain with the bit that remains with the national Government. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on issues of project management including supervision, counties had this habit of saying that the department of Public Works is the one that does supervision and monitoring and also certifies certificates, so that contractors can be paid. Therefore, they will not use this as a reason for the inordinate delays in the payment of contractors and in the certification of the work done. We agree that this role be now transferred to the county government, so that they can supervise and monitor as well as honour the certificates that are raised. The Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC) should now step up, so that they can try to the umpire between the national Government and county governments, especially on the projects that are co-financed by the national Government. In most of our counties, it was part of the dreams and the manifesto of this administration to ensure that we have County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP) in every county. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the financing of these Parks was supposed to be 50-50 percent. The national Government was to give Kshs250 million and the counties, Kshs250 million The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only.A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and Audio Services,Senate."
}