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{
    "id": 1474446,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1474446/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 348,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "While I rise to oppose this amendment, I request that we proceed with the matters of the House. I agree that this is a very important Bill, in fact, for all of us, under Article 210. I rise to oppose any reduction of monies to counties. The Mover said that in the last financial year of 2023/2024, counties got Kshs385 billion of the shareable revenue. In fact, I remember Kshs401 billion that we had before this amendment came, was out of mediation as per Article 113 of the Constitution. I expected the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget to give us a report on what they have considered. However, I am happy that the Mover has indicated that we allow the committee time to come up with proper numbers. The minimum amount we took to the counties through the mediation process is Kshs401 billion. While we appreciate that counties still struggle, cannot account for money and we do not see developments or their functionality, the best thing that ever happened to this country is devolution. So, I object the reduction of money going to counties. I agree that we retain the Kshs401 billion to go to counties. My proposal is very simple. I am happy Members of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget are here. We need to scrap off money meant for the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF). This is because the NG-CDF kitty that was increased per county is unconstitutional. That matter is still in the Supreme Court. We should not even look far, we should just take the money that was being allocated to an illegal entity called NG-CDF and give it to counties. In any case, NG-CDF almost has similar functions to those of the counties. As we talk, the construction of ECDE classrooms is being done by counties. On the issue of construction of police stations, the national Government can do that. So, we do need to get money from anywhere else. I propose we scrap NG-CDF and take that money. We have also agreed on the issue of bursaries. You heard the Speaker of the National Assembly proposing that we amalgamate the bursaries. There is already a proposal within Parliament to bring bursaries into one basket. I do not see any justification why we should still allocate money to the NG-CDF through bursaries. As a country, we have agreed to put all the money that was in bursary from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), NG-CDF and the Ministry of Education into one basket. We make education free. This will ensure every Kenyan child walk to school without the bureaucratic process of obtaining bursary funds. It is still unclear how the Controller of Budget (CoB) approves payments to counties. Can you believe that counties have a pending bill of almost Kshs120 billion? We have a problem with voiding of payments whereby counties apply with company ‘y’ but when they get approval of payments, they pay company ‘x’ through voiding of payments process. We want to ask the CoB if there is any legislative intervention when counties apply to pay companies. I wish my Chair of CPAC was listening. There is a dark valley in the issue of voiding of payments. I am happy that Members of the Finance and Budget Committee are here. They need to assist the CoB. Sen. Boni through the Chair, you might find that Kakamega County would want to pay company ‘y’, but after the release of funds by CoB, they pay company ‘z’ who is closer to the governor or powers within. 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."
}