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{
    "id": 1462711,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1462711/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 280,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Tobiko",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I rise to support the Report by the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on the proposed amendments by the National Assembly. I am actually dismayed that the proposed amendments by the National Assembly went through the National Assembly without Members of the National Assembly from those affected counties objecting to this kind of proposal. I note with concern that the National Assembly is proposing a reduction of the Equalisation Fund by Kshs790 million. There is no justification for such a reduction. I, therefore, support the proposal by the Committee of Finance and Budget to reject the National Assembly proposed amendments. We will hear none of it. We will not support such a move of money that was meant for marginalised areas of our country to come back to the centre; in the words of Sen. Kajwang’. Madam Temporary Speaker, this money was meant for roads, electricity connectivity, health services and water. Our counties are still extremely needy. I understand that the National Treasury needs to bridge the gap of what was left after the rejection of the Finance Bill 2024/2025. However, the National Treasury can scoop and bridge that gap by addressing the leakages and wastage within the mainstream ministries, but never, by returning money that is devolved to our rural areas where this money is really needed. We cannot continue paying lip service to equality in this country to a purportedly just Government of the people, by the people, for the people, yet, we never seem to stand with the people when the right time comes for us to stand with the people. If I take an example of Kajiado County, I know of three constituencies that receive the Equalisation Fund; that is, Kajiado West, Kajiado Central and Kajiado South. Even those constituencies such as Kajiado East and Kajiado North that are not receiving should be receiving because, every time, we are here lamenting of bad roads, never seeing tarmac and our roads being raised to bitumen standards like in other counties of this country. Our friend from Nandi County says that what we see in their areas could be farms owned by multinational companies and yet, they have had the presidency for several years just like the counties in central Kenya. If they have not been able to address such things as the multinational companies and historical injustices, then, we cannot agree for the little that has been given to our counties by the Constitution to be returned to the national Government. The National Treasury is yet to honour its commitment to increase the Equalisation Fund from what has so far been disbursed of around Kshs22.5 billion. What they should have disbursed by now is around Kshs62.4 billion. There is almost Kshs40 billion yet to be disbursed. We cannot go for the little that has already been disbursed. It should be added. Let the National Assembly be on notice that even---"
}