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{
    "id": 1476042,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1476042/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 431,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I appreciate the Senators who have spoken before me because as the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Budget, we have unanimously agreed to reject the amendments. The sentiments that have been made by my colleagues are the same and we appreciate that. I recall in the beginning of this 13th Senate, there was much forth and back in the arguments of the Division of Revenue. I am happy today the discussion is unanimous on being on the same page of agreeing to retain the equitable share to the counties at Kshs401 billion. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on the same, I do appreciate all the stakeholders that we walk a journey with. More specifically, I appreciate the CoG. I have seen this time round how the CoG have appeared before the Committee. We have been on the same page unlike at the begin whereby the never used to appear or bother. This time round they have been at the forefront which is good, so that it can be a win-win for all of us. I would like you to note that the figures have been reducing from the financial year 2014/2015. They started with about 21.7 per cent, which is about 22 per cent rounding off. In the financial year 2023/2024, the percentage was about 16.8 per cent. If we allow this figure to keep on going down, then this percentage will definitely keep on reducing. The bigger question would be, why are we here? Secondly, what justifies these figures going down every time. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, last financial year when the equitable share of revenue allocated to counties was at Kshs385 billion, we were coming from a previous allocation of Kshs370 billion. We were able to bring it to Kshs385 billion through a mediation process. When our deliberation started as a committee, our proposal was Kshs415 billion. It came to this House and that was adopted, but because the figures were different, we still went to mediation. We stood firm and that is how we retained the Kshs401 billion. I appreciate the committee that went for mediation. It is very important for this House to note how we agreed and settled with an increment of Kshs16 billion to Kshs401 billion. It is because of the different parameters and policies that are already in place. As a committee, we went further to look at the issues that are in place because if they are not addressed, we will be killing devolution. What are the issues and the concerns that we looked at? One of the key issues was the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) that have already been adopted by the county governments. This requires a 50-50 per cent share from both the national and county governments. Some of these projects have been launched. For the counties to be able to achieve the provisions for CAIPs, they require Kshs11.7 billion. Where will this money come from? 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."
}